Colombia went into half-time level in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter against Switzerland, with the match finely poised heading into the second half.
As the teams prepared to resume play, Colombian supporters were hoping for a touch of brilliance from captain James Rodríguez on what was a landmark evening in his international career.
The 35-year-old midfielder reached an incredible milestone by making his 131st appearance for the Colombian national team, surpassing veteran goalkeeper David Ospina to become the most-capped player in the country’s football history.
Over the course of his international career, the former Real Madrid star has accumulated 31 goals and 43 assists for Colombia, underscoring his long-standing influence on the national side.
Rodríguez, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on Sunday, is featuring in his third FIFA World Cup after previously representing his nation in the 2014 and 2018 editions.
His most iconic World Cup moment came in 2014, when he claimed the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and delivered a stunning strike against Uruguay — a goal that was later voted the best of the competition.
Now, all eyes are on whether Rodríguez can once again inspire Colombia to victory and guide them into the World Cup Quarter-Finals for the first time since their memorable run in 2014.
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