James Rodriguez
With his five goals, his bright yellow jersey and his boyish looks, James Rodriguez has attracted the attention of Brazil.
Precocious and virtuoso are just two of the words used to describe the 22-year-old playmaker ahead of Colombia’s World Cup quarter final against Brazil on Friday.
Just 22, he is already Colombia’s top scorer at a World Cup and is the leading scorer so far at the 2014 tournament. For many, the player who wears the name James on his jersey has been a revelation at the World Cup.
Played either on the wing or in an attacking midfield role, Rodriguez is commonly ranked as one of the best young players in the world. He has received praise for his technique, vision and playmaking skills, and has been referred to as the successor to his compatriot Carlos Valderrama.
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.
At club level, Rodriguez starred for Porto in 2012 and was named the best player in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, receiving the Portuguese Golden Ball, and becoming the youngest player to receive the award.[7] In 2013, Rodriguez moved from Porto to Monaco for a transfer fee of €45 million, making him the second most expensive Colombian in history after Radamel Falcao, and one of the most expensive players in world football history.
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