A closer look at the biggest achievements of James Rodríguez. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
James Rodríguez is a celebrated Colombian professional footballer known for his skills as an attacking midfielder or winger. Currently playing for Liga MX club León and captaining the Colombia national team, he is lauded for his technique, vision, and playmaking abilities. Often regarded as one of Colombia's finest players, he is frequently compared to Carlos Valderrama as his successor.
October 2011: Man of the Match vs. Bolivia
On 11 October 2011, James was selected as the man of the match for his performance against Bolivia, where he initiated the winning goal.
2011: Won Toulon Tournament
In 2011, James started his international career with the Colombia under-20 team, winning the 2011 Toulon Tournament.
2011: Won Multiple Trophies with Porto
In 2011, James won multiple trophies with Porto, including the Super Cup, league title, Europa League title, and Cup title. He also signed a new five-year contract.
2011: First Hat-Trick since 2011
On 17 March 2019, James scored his first hat-trick since 2011, with Porto, in a 6-0 victory over Mainz.
2012: Won Portuguese Golden Ball
In 2012, James won the Portuguese Golden Ball award, becoming the second Colombian to win the award and the youngest player ever to hold the honour.
2013: Man of the Match Performance Against Bolivia
In 2013, James gave a man of the match performance in the second half of the CONMEBOL qualifiers against Bolivia, where he gave a man of the match performance in a 5-0 victory.
June 2014: Key Performances in 2014 FIFA World Cup
In June 2014, James was included in Colombia's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was named Man of the Match in the opening game against Greece, setting up two goals and scoring one himself. He maintained his form in the second match against Ivory Coast, scoring once and assisting another, earning another Man of the Match award. At the end of the group stage, FIFA ranked James as the tournament's best-performing player.
2014: Adidas Custom Gold Boots
After the 2014 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot, Adidas issued James his own custom gold boots to celebrate his achievement and increase brand association.
2016: Won Third Place at the Copa América
In 2016, James represented Colombia at the Copa América, winning a third-place medal.
2017: Winning the 2017-18 Bundesliga Title with Bayern
James won the 2017–18 Bundesliga title with Bayern, credited as a key member behind their title defense for his contribution of 7 goals and 11 assists in 23 Bundesliga appearances.
March 2019: First Hat-Trick Since 2011
On 17 March 2019, James scored three goals in a 6–0 league win over Mainz, his first hat-trick since 2011, with Porto.
2019: La Liga Title with Real Madrid
After returning to Madrid, James made eight appearances during the 2019–20 league season, as Real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga.
June 2024: 100th international cap and Copa América Selection
In June 2024, James Rodríguez earned his 100th international cap in a friendly win over Bolivia. On June 21, 2024, he was selected for the 2024 Copa América squad, where he later surpassed Messi's assist record in a single edition.
2024: Reached the Copa America Final
In 2024, James represented his nation at the Copa America, reaching the final and receiving the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.