James Rodríguez

For the English footballer, see Jay Rodriguez.

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Rubio.

Rodríguez is commonly ranked as one of the best young players in the world.^[2][3][4] He has received praise for his technique, vision and playmaking skills, and has been referred to as the successor to his compatriot Carlos Valderrama.^[3][5][6]James David Rodríguez Rubio; born 12 July 1991), usually known as James Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxames roˈðɾiɣes]) or simply James (hahm-ess),^[1] is a Colombian footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Colombian national team, as an attacking midfielder or winger.

Rodríguez became well known in Europe during his time at Porto, winning several trophies and individual awards during his 3 years at the club. In 2014, Rodríguez moved from Monaco to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of €80 million, making him the most expensive Colombian in history, above Radamel Falcao, and one of the most expensive players in football.^[7]

His emergence in the Colombia national football team started with the U-20 national team, where he was captain of the 2011 Toulon Tournament-winning side. He eventually captained the U-20 team during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which eventually led him to become a regular on the senior squad by age 20. He was selected to play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot as top goalscorer and was part of the Cup's All Star XI.^[8][9]