A 15-year journey comes to an end; James Rodríguez will no longer be seen in the Colombia squad.

He made his debut for the Colombia national team in 2011. James Rodríguez kicked off his international career by scoring the winning goal in that very first match against Bolivia. Nearly a decade and a half has passed since then; wearing the number 10 jersey, he created countless memories for his country. Now, the 35-year-old star has brought that chapter to a close.

Rodríguez announced his retirement from international football in a social media post. In his farewell message, he wrote, "Today, I want to speak from the heart. After many years, many matches, moments of joy, and difficult times, the time has come to conclude one of the most important chapters of my life—my journey with the Colombia national team."

Three World Cups; 2014 stands out

Rodríguez played in three World Cups for Colombia—2014, 2018, and 2026. However, Colombia failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of Rodríguez's international career was the 2014 World Cup. He finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals in just five matches, winning the Golden Boot.

However, even more talked about than his goal tally was the spectacular volley he scored against Uruguay in the Round of 16. That goal remains one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history. As a reward for his outstanding performance, Rodríguez joined Real Madrid shortly after the tournament ended.

In the record books for Colombia

Rodríguez played 131 matches for his country, the highest number in Colombia's history. During this time, he recorded 31 goals and 43 assists.

He also ranks second in terms of goals scored; Radamel Falcao holds the record for the most goals for Colombia with 36. Rodríguez also shares the record for the most World Cup appearances for Colombia, tying with Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón.

Final match against Switzerland

Rodríguez made his last appearance in a Colombia jersey during the 2026 World Cup. On July 7, Colombia was eliminated from the tournament after losing a penalty shootout against Switzerland in the Round of 16. That turned out to be his final match for the national team.

In addition to wearing the number 10 jersey, he also served as Colombia's captain. Under his leadership, Colombia reached the final of the 2024 Copa América. Although the team lost to Argentina in the title clash, Rodriguez and his squad earned the distinction of reaching the Copa América final for the first time in 23 years.

No immediate farewell to club football

While his chapter with the national team has concluded, Rodriguez is not bidding farewell to football entirely; he will continue playing at the club level even after retiring from international duty.

The attacking midfielder recently signed a contract with the Colombian club Atlético Nacional. Consequently, although he has stepped away from the national team, he will still be seen in action in club football.