Two assists from James in 27 minutes off the bench assist #1 🇨🇴 ASISTENCIA perfecta de James Rodríguez. El colombiano la puso para el 1-1 de #MinnesotaUnited ante #AustinFC, al 69’ pic.twitter.com/ayaXiraE3F— Pipe Sierra (@PSierraR) May 11, 2026 Assist #2 🇨🇴 DOBLETE de ASISTENCIAS de James Rodríguez. El colombiano la puso para el 2-1 de #MinnesotaUnited ante #AustinFC, al 77’ pic.twitter.com/YwScvhm5A9— Pipe Sierra (@PSierraR) May 11, 2026
So weird how Colombians hate a player that AT VERY WORST is a top 3 player of all time for us and has contributed the most to the national team but like people say, Colombians gonna Colombianate
I think his body is shot and he is doing whatever he can to make it to the WC... His calf is an inevitability and he can't avoid it flaring up and coaches just won't roll with it like Ancelotti did...
Even if he contributes 2-3 goals, his fitness will still be questionable. Unless he can play a full game.
Internet soccer rumors be like internet wrestling rumors James Rodríguez tells Apple TV that reports out of Colombia saying he'll retire after the World Cup "were made for views and likes." "I'm the only person who knows how long I'll play. I'll announce it well in advance. I think I have a few years left. Those reports are false."— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) May 11, 2026
and with all that still one of our best players ever who is top 3 in every category for the national team goals Games Assists Wins Elimination rounds in tournaments No matter his flaws, he has earned respect but fans treat him like he’s Duran
He's the best Colombian national team player ever, I don't blame him I blame Lorenzo for allowing it and for not designing a strategy to minimize reliance on him as a starter. He's 34 and questionable injury and fitness, accept it and plan for what's best for Colombia James is doing the same stuff for years now at club.
Even at the club level Lucho Diaz is the only one tha rivals him and not yet James despite all of his issues was Best eleven in La Liga Best eleven in UEFA twice Midfielder of the year in La Liga Best eleven in Bundesliga Somehow made a dog shit Everton team look decent and at one point be in CL spots With is all he is lazy, he is a diva, he’s this and that but we ignore his accomplishments as if they never happened
In general the discourse on athletes is so toxic. I would agree 100% though I tend to put Falcao up there with James and Lucho. Falcao went through a similar thing where post injury people would say awful things about him. I think it's about differentiating athletes as people (lazy! Dumb! Etc.) from what they can or can't do on the field (can't play more than 60 minutes, often injured, etc.). I've never thought James is lazy. I think he has a recurring injury that limits how often he can play and coaches have increasing transparency to this and aren't willing to deal with it. The thing is that he is absolutely able to perform with it as he did at Everton and even Sao Paulo and in Mexico. The guy is brilliant - but I do think that the issues finding teams that will take him has lead to longer periods of inactivity that then make it harder for him to catch up. That's the biggest struggle. Id agree with Villus though - it's for Lorenzo to manage how much the NT is reliant on James and building a plan to transition us into the future. He has focused on short term and getting most out of James when the big risk, esp in a World Cup, is what we do when his calf flares up and he is gonna a miss a game or two and we haven't played without him in months, etc. Realistically, we should be starting Arias in his position and then bringing on James in 2Hs (actually just like Minnesota has been doing) and if James is willing to do it in the MLS he would do it for the NT. It just takes us doing it.
I also find interesting that people who don’t have high work rate are the ones who love high work rate players lol I have been working 7 days a week between two cities and I work out twice a day 6 days a week and I admire more technique than work rate. I guess because to me anyone can run but not anyone can put a pin point ball in a through ball pass. Yet some fat guy at the bar is like James is lazy!!! He doesn’t run!!!!
FWIW, Quintero also had a great night, with a goal and an assist, and he scored in the PK definition. Seems like plenty of our guys are finding their stride at the right moment.
Article by Cardenas about James https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/72...wX3HH83kxoeZ06vmKw_aem_KWLyMCyt6h6I4cg2OJHnJw
the comments that get me are the ones when they ask what he has won with Colombia as if we had some big trophy history before James.
gold boot at a WC not being a striker, most assist at a Copa America for a team not really favored to win. its like saying Ibra sucks because the Swedish suck. Or the guy from Georgia in PSG is terrible because his NT never going to win anything
🇨🇴 Giovanni Hernández, sobre James Rodríguez:"Yo soy feliz viéndolo en la cancha. Él ya dijo que se va a preparar muy bien, que va a llegar muy bien y yo le creo.En la fase de grupos, cuando juegue el primer partido, el segundo estará mejor, y el tercero mejor, y así… pic.twitter.com/7JimejI7uo— Samuel Vargas (@SVargasOK) May 11, 2026
I don't think most people doubt James' greatness, but the issue is moreso the decisions he's made and what can look like a lack of professionalism. I love James & Quintero because they're magicians, but even in their 20s neither could really be relied on defensively. At 35, that becomes a major liability unless the team compensates for it. If James isn't sharp, playing him hurts the team. If he's not creating danger or controlling possession, he gives you very little defensively, and now he's slower (may be the slowest dude in the whole tournament) and losing the ball more often. You can already see it in the MLS, and against stronger teams at the WC hose turnovers will get exposed big time on counters. I still think Colombia needs both James and quintero because they are our main creators, but neither can give you a full 90. The bigger issue is the team is so dependent on them creatively that I'm not sure we know how to play another way should it fall apart.
Here’s the middle-ground argument: Against Him: He’s lazy He’s a diva He whines a lot He takes advantage of clubs For Him: He’s one of the greatest players in Colombian history He has credibility and experience from playing for clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in Europe His skill and talent are still there, even if his athleticism isn’t what it used to be Clubs take advantage of players all the time, so some people feel it’s fair to turn the tables on them for once. All I care about is with or without him, we do good. Even better with him, as it'll be his last dance at a world cup.