[bittersweet music playing]
I don't know why I'm here.
I need to change this… situation.
With the qualities and talent that I have,
uh, I should be playing in a different league.
And now it's time for a change.
[interviewer] What would you call this documentary?
Mm…
Maybe you should call it…
"James's Comeback" or "James is Back."
"James is Back," maybe.
Another title you could do…
A good one would be "The 10's Challenge."
THE 10'S CHALLENGE
"The Ten's Challenge." I like that. I like that a lot.
[announcer] James cuts to his left!
Yes, Colombia!
Goal!
EPISODE 3 JAMES VS. JAMES
[clapper loader] Interview with Néstor Lorenzo. Take one.
[Lorenzo] When we were picked up for the national team…
COLOMBIA NATIONAL TEAM COACH
…I took a trip through Asia and Europe.
But first, I stopped in Qatar.
To see James, at his house.
[James] I had known Néstor for eight years.
We worked together with José Pékerman's coaching staff.
At that time, I was going through a really bad stretch.
[María] Look who's home.
I'll tell you that I was thinking about quitting football.
I told that to Néstor.
[atmospheric music playing]
[James] I wasn't feeling nervous when I was getting ready for games.
And that was weird for me.
That made me worry, you know?
I said,
"What's happening to me?"
I asked him if--
If he was willing to fully commit himself to the national team.
To make it his primary focus.
And he said, "I am."
And I know he means it.
[music continues]
[James] And then Néstor said, "Don't worry, it's gonna work out okay."
"You're coming back."
"But first, you need to go to another club."
"Somewhere where you can play, where you can play and be happy."
"Where the stadium is full."
He started working on changing teams.
Looking for somewhere he could play in a more competitive league.
PIRAEUS, GREECE
[crowd chanting]
[camera shutters clicking]
NEW TRAINING CENTER AND ACADEMY
[reporter] Coach Néstor Lorenzo will announce the first players
selected for the national team.
Yairo Moreno, Mateus Uribe, James Rodríguez…
[thoughtful music playing]
[man] We all know he's not at his best.
He hasn't played in the last five months. Hardly at all.
We didn't expect to see James selected.
Especially not this early in the process.
[Arango] But he still called up James.
Even though he just played 15 minutes with Al-Rayyan.
And there's a good chance he won't play this weekend with his new team.
[crowd cheering]
[music continues]
I said he was able to return to professional soccer,
JOURNALIST
but he hasn't recaptured the global spotlight.
TITANS ON A WARPATH
[reporter 1] But calling up James and making him the captain?
A guy who hasn't played in months,
and who did nothing for us trying to make the last World Cup? Fuck that.
[reporter 2] The thing is, it's the same team.
The same old guys again.
[reporter 3] People are wondering,
why James Rodríguez, who might as well be retired?
How many more years are we going to let James hang around on the national team?
I don't think he'll make it to the next World Cup.
[Lorenzo] He's a player who has given so much to Colombian football.
I believe he has a lot more to give.
[reporter 4] I've never seen a player be met with this kind of negativity
like this time with James.
It was a unanimous rejection from the media and fans alike.
Did they conduct a survey on that? I don't think so.
I think James-- Everyone loves him. They really do.
And I don't pay attention to anyone who just wants to see him fail.
He's 100% committed, and that's amazing for the team.
He's proven he is.
Even when it meant he had to sacrifice something from his own career.
Leaving from Qatar to Greece, and then from Greece to São Paulo.
[reporter] James was officially announced to have signed…
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
…with São Paulo Football Club in Brazil.
My Portuguese isn't perfect, but I'll try my best.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting]
[Guerrero] He made the decision to return to South American football.
To a competitive league like Brazil.
So he goes to São Paulo,
but what he really needs are minutes, minutes, minutes.
[reporter] And the Colombian veteran didn't play a single minute.
He started every game on the bench and was never considered to start.
In most games, he came on as a substitute.
He hasn't had the expected impact in Brazil.
[Lorenzo] Everywhere he went,
starting in Qatar, in Greece, in Brazil, he's done interesting things
and demonstrated his talent everywhere he's played.
But the problem is, he hasn't played much.
We need him to play more, to play consistently.
[reporter] The team prepares for the four games…
FRIENDLIES PRIOR TO 2024 COPA AMÉRICA
…in the Copa América.
[announcer] Wide to the box, James. Hits it.
And he stretches for it…
[Lorenzo] James doesn't lose his drive to win with the national team.
It's always there. That's what I value most about him.
[announcer] Goal for Colombia!
COLOMBIA 1 - SPAIN 0
There's a symbiotic relationship between James and the national team.
It's so natural for him.
[announcer 1] Later, he will face Romania's national team.
[announcer 2] Cross!
[Lorenzo] They need each other. He's shown dedication to it.
COLOMBIA 3 - ROMANIA 2
No matter where he is.
[announcer] Goal!
COLOMBIA 5 - USA 1
It's the countdown to the start of the Copa América.
One of the favorites for winning it all is the Colombian squad.
[expectant music playing]
[James] Next week will be the start of the Copa América.
It's all I've been able to think about.
The thing is, if you wanna win the Copa América,
or well, any big tournament, the planets have to perfectly align.
I hope that this time, God decides to put on our jersey.
We've fought.
I've fought hard for 15 years to bring home a trophy.
I feel and I think that--
That my teammates believe that the Cup is this close.
That we have it right here.
They've put a lot of faith in us, everyone in the country.
This is the first Copa América where we all believe we're gonna win it.
We're gonna win it.
[lively music playing]
[reporter 2] We've been talking a lot about the European Championship,
and not enough about Copa América. Who will be the winner?
UNITED STATES
[reporter 2] The 2024 Copa América will be played in the United States.
[reporter 3] And as always, the Colombian National Team faithful
have gathered, have come together in support of their team,
led by Néstor Lorenzo.
[Luis Díaz] Ever since Coach Néstor took over, I've felt this…
SOCCER PLAYER
…this confidence, this conviction that we have a great team.
Here in Washington, where the Colombian team has arrived,
we're beginning to get a sense of what the Copa América has in store.
[Díaz] James has always been a role model to me.
Every time he puts on the Colombian jersey,
you know he gives it his best.
And I've always admired that and want to do the same.
COPA AMÉRICA 2024 COLOMBIA VS PARAGUAY - GROUP STAGE
["Aguaráchate" by Monsieur Periné playing]
A leader has responsibilities off the field
that make him just as important, or more, as he is on the field.
[announcer] Fantastic cross! Straight to the back post. Muñoz!
[James] I love being a leader.
I like helping my teammates on the field.
Listening to all of them.
[announcer] Here comes the Colombian left-footer.
The cross comes in high! Goal!
GROUP STAGE COLOMBIA 2 - PARAGUAY 1
[Lorenzo] He sets the tempo.
And the team has learned to just follow his lead.
[James] The team plays for me, and I play for them.
But I think more than anything, I'm playing for them.
COLOMBIA VS. COSTA RICA GROUP STAGE
[announcer] Left-footed strike from James! Goalkeeper Sequeira blocks the number 10!
-Sequeira rushes out… Penalty! -[announcer 2] Penalty!
[announcer 1] Number 7 for Colombia takes it…
[Díaz] The ability that he has to read a match.
He has so many ways to make an impact and we need them all on the national team.
[announcer 2] Penalty kick. He takes it high! The header!
Sánchez, at last, Sánchez!
[Díaz] I was getting more and more excited about our team, the whole squad, with him.
He made every pass, every assist, every goal.
[announcer 1] Córdoba!
GROUP STAGE COLOMBIA 3 - COSTA RICA 0
Hell yeah!
[reporter] The star of the Copa América group stage
is named James Rodríguez.
The most important player in the history of Colombia
is James Rodríguez.
[reporter] The coach made an excellent decision. He grabbed James and told him,
"We need you to be the star of this team".
COLOMBIA VS. BRAZIL GROUP STAGE
[reporter] The most anticipated and evenly-matched game
in the Copa América group state.
The undefeated Colombia, and the unpredictable Brazil
will face off at Levi's Stadium.
[announcer 1] Muñoz has it. He runs past it, lets James take it!
The shot, the strike!
The ball just brushes over the goal!
[announcer 2] …for Lucas Paquetá and friends.
He takes it high and in!
Goal!
[reporter 1] James is enjoying a second wind in his career.
He's back and leading his team.
[announcer 2] Córdoba sends it to Muñoz!
Muñoz, Muñoz, Muñoz, Muñoz!
Yeah!
[reporter 2] This man, James Rodríguez, is playing his ass off.
[reporter 3] A joy to watch.
It's a pleasure to watch Colombia and James.
GROUP STAGE COLOMBIA 1 -BRAZIL 1
I'm happy because we qualified for the next round.
We took the first step, but there's still a long way for us to go.
[reporter] 3 to 0, the team…
MOTHER
It's good when he says, "I'm nervous."
I know he'll take that anxiety and turn it into something else on the field.
-Which dress? -[Salomé] Grandma!
He likes to feel the responsibility.
It helps him to play that way, at his limit,
feeling the pressure and the anxiety.
He does it well. He handles it well.
Because for a while there, he lost some of his love for football.
He lost the need he had to keep going.
He found his love for the game again when he was back with the national team.
-Is Daddy going to score? -[Samuel] Yeah!
[María] Wow! Bravo!
[James] When I first got to Greece,
I was talking with the coach at the time, Corbéran.
And he said something that really stuck with me.
He said, "You have to go on the field and play for your children."
What better motivation is there?
[gentle music playing]
[Salomé] I'm always kinda nervous
DAUGHTER
Like, "What's gonna happen in the game?" After the game I'm happy.
No matter if they win or lose, I always feel… happy.
[reporter] The Colombian team is preparing to face Panama in the quarterfinals.
COLOMBIA VS PANAMA QUARTER-FINALS
They will look to keep their dream of making history alive
as they take the next step towards winning their second Copa América title.
[James] You have to play for them because they have given up a lot for you.
And they're the ones who truly love to see you succeed.
I hadn't met Corbéran before,
but his advice came at the right time for me.
During the last cup,
I was really happy because Salomé was there with me the whole time.
Cheering me on.
Samuel was still too little. Five.
But Salomé, I feel like I played that Copa América just for her.
She was out there as one of the fans cheering us on.
Cheering me on.
What more could I ask for? It means the world.
She's a James fan, a jamesista. [laughs]
And I tell him he's gonna do really well.
And I tell him to run.
Hey!
[announcer] With the left, James! What a shot, what a shot!
TODAY JAMES #10 WILL SCORE
Corner! This is it!
The header! Córdoba!
Yes, Colombia!
[lively music playing]
Arias is onside, Córdoba's up top finding his spot.
Arias, looking for Colombia's second. Mosquera comes out.
I think he hit Arias there.
-Penalty, penalty! -[announcer] Penalty.
Was it a penalty? Penalty?
After that stretch where he wasn't…
Come on, son!
…playing for the national team, after going through some tough times.
[announcer] James takes it with his left! Yes!
[Díaz] …and then seeing him shine again with the national team was spectacular.
What he did at the Copa América.
That's why I keep saying he's the king for this team.
[announcer 1] Beautiful pass from James!
[announcer] Lucho, Lucho, Lucho, Lucho, Lucho!
What a goal!
Cross from Muñoz! He pulls back and he keeps it.
-Who's in range? Who's open? The ref-- -[announcer 2] Penalty!
[announcer 1] Here comes the shots. Goal from Rios!
Goal!
Arias takes it. Arias and Borja up.
Can Arias get there? He does! Wow, what a--
-Penalty. -[announcer 2] Penalty.
[announcer 1] Here comes Borja. It's away! Borja shoots!
Goal! Goal!
[Díaz] For me and for a lot of us, he's been the heart of this team
and will continue to be.
QUARTERFINALS COLOMBIA 5 - PANAMA 0
[reporter] Colombia has it all. I was gonna say something about it,
but really, it's all about James.
When you have this great player,
it's all about giving him the chance to play,
giving him minutes, letting him show the world what he can do.
[Buscalia] The first big decision that Néstor Lorenzo made
was to put James center stage.
[Guerrero] And today we're seeing him shine at the Copa América.
And it's not even about him scoring goals.
It's about all of the ways that he influences the game.
The way James has displayed a level of selflessness we've never seen before.
Maybe the fact that he doesn't have another club to worry about
has helped him embrace his role as national team captain.
[reporter] He really is something.
When he puts on the Colombian jersey, he's an entirely different player.
In Colombia, everyone was mad when they called him up.
And now everyone's proud of him.
[reporter] Keep an eye out.
Watch out for what's next for James after Copa América. He's a sensation.
[Guerrero] In his mind, he's settling a debt.
Not to others, but to himself.
Uruguay has already qualified. They have.
Uruguayans want the same thing we do, so hopefully we can come out on top.
And hopefully we'll make the people of Colombia very happy.
[hopeful music playing]
[reporter] Colombia wins, scores big, and excites.
Our team shows what they're made of in this semifinal.
It's all about the goals.
Colombia-Uruguay.
[announcer] The teams are ready on the field.
COLOMBIA VS URUGUAY SEMIFINALS
Get ready, Colombia! James Rodríguez, the team captain.
He signals to Pellistri for the ball on the right.
He sends it to Valverde, he moves up.
He threads a beautiful pass to Núñez… and just wide!
Unbelievable!
Araújo goes, he had Núñez in the middle.
He sends it to Núñez, he's on the outside.
Núñez!
So close, ladies and gentlemen!
He was on the hunt, but this is still zero-zero.
[Lorenzo] James is one of the best crossers in the world, in my opinion.
It's not just where he puts it, but how it gets there.
That's one of the things that really makes him stand out.
[determined music playing]
[whistle blows]
[announcer] We're counting on you, Colombia!
Left wide open, sends it up!
Header, header, header, header!
It's in!
Colombia!
Have to be careful. De la Cruz has a yellow card already.
Free kick for Uruguay.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Muñoz threw an elbow!
Muñoz has to be thrown out.
He's done, ladies and gentlemen. Bad news for Colombia.
Daniel Muñoz had been ejected.
We were ahead, and I told someone from the medical staff
that if they had to take me out,
then we had to protect that lead with our lives.
[announcer] Olivera hangs onto the ball.
He finds Valverde.
Great job setting up the equalizer. He passes to the middle.
Suárez's on goal! Oh, off the post! The post catches it, ladies and gentlemen.
It's going to fall to Sinisterra. Mateus Uribe for the second!
Off the post! Rochet saves it.
It's deflected, and Uruguay survives!
Araújo. Valverde, on goal!
It goes to the front post!
To the final! Ten seconds before we can celebrate our ticket to the final!
Take it! Kevin, let's go!
Sinisterra! Sinisterra!
Sinisterra has it! Sinisterra chips it high!
Time's up! Blow the whistle, ref!
-The game is over! The game is done! -[crowd cheering]
-Final, final, final, final, final, final! -[announcer 2] Colombia!
Finally, after 23 years,
is on their way to the Copa América finals!
I'm pretty sure that…
That was the happiest day of my entire career.
I'd trade everything I ever won for myself,
the Puskás award, the Golden Boot.
I'd trade it all because nothing compares to that.
I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it.
I started crying.
And…-and I saw my dad smiling.
-It made me cry even harder. -And I… I was crying too.
[reporter] You have 50 million hearts beating with pride in Colombia.
Do you know how much this means to the entire country?
For me…
[poignant music playing]
[Díaz] It was a relief.
We'd been working so hard chasing it.
And you could see how much it meant to us.
I told him I've always tried to make sure that he knows,
from the moment I joined the… the national team,
I've let him know that he's always been my idol.
And I keep saying, "You're a star. You're the best. I admire you so much."
He deserves it.
For almost 13 years…
I've wanted this.
[exhales]
We're so happy.
[poignant music continues]
[María] What a moment for James and--
And I think for all of Colombia. For his family.
Those of us who are lucky enough to be close to him,
we know how badly he's wanted this moment.
Reaching a final with his country's team.
I can't put into words just how much his jersey means to him.
How much his country means to him. How much the people mean.
[Aguirre] Redemption for James Rodríguez.
In 2014, he told the world, "Here I am."
Then in 2024, he had another message.
JOURNALIST
He said, "I'm still here."
[crowd chanting]
[chanting] Colombia! Colombia! Colombia! Colombia! Colombia!
[atmospheric music playing]
MIAMI UNITED STATES
[indistinct chatter]
[news anchor 1] Many Colombian fans made the trip to Miami
to show their support for their country in the Copa América final.
[cheering]
[news anchor 2] Whether out of faith or pride,
most believe that Colombia will be the victors of the Copa América.
Colombia is gonna win, they're gonna win.
[reporter] For the first time,
Colombia and Argentina will face each other in the finals.
Argentina isn't afraid of anyone. Ever.
Messi is to them what James Rodríguez is to us.
James! James! James!
[reporter] James Rodríguez is the man of the cup.
He broke Messi's record with six assists throughout the tournament.
May the best win. It's gonna be a great match.
They have James, but we have the greatest of all time.
[chanting]
[man] Before the game, it was chaotic.
People were sneaking in and starting fights.
[reporter] All the entrances have been blocked off.
Heartbreaking images from outside the stadium.
We see children crying. What happened?
They're not letting people in. A disaster waiting to happen.
If they don't open the gates soon, they're going to delay the game.
This is anything but a party, Miguel.
It was a strange match, it was delayed. There was that terrible humidity.
[reporter] The game started over an hour late
following arrests and other issues at the gates.
[María] Everything going on.
There were Colombians being grabbed, slammed into the ground.
People were beating each other half to death, fighting everywhere.
[cheering]
COLOMBIA VS ARGENTINA 2024 COPA AMÉRICA FINAL
[announcer] Here comes James as Colombia takes the field.
Ladies and gentlemen, the match is set, and the teams are ready.
Just a few minutes now until kick-off.
[fanfare music playing]
[James] Playing a match for your country in front of all of those fans,
45,000 Colombians, and your kids were there too.
[María] I loved seeing Salo getting to do this. She never had before.
I loved that Samuel was there to see it too.
I wanted them to see their dad in this role.
As the star for the national team.
As a leader, a true leader.
[singing Colombia's National Anthem]
[crowd cheering]
Let's go Colombia!
[James] It's always a privilege to face a player like Messi, you know?
He's the best. The best of the best.
This is what you're training for.
To play in matches like this against players like him.
[announcer 1] Kickoff! Here we go!
[announcer 2] And here comes Muñoz, here's the cross!
That's the Argentina that we want to see! Playing hard, fired up!
Álvarez is there-- He had it!
Just three minutes into the first half, a goal kick for Colombia.
They bring it back, extending the possession.
Back to the captain.
James sends it up again.
Pass is to Córdoba, Arias brings it down for him.
Their first shot is away! Córdoba makes the move!
Córdoba! He shot it, and it goes just wide!
James with the corner, looking for Sánchez.
Counting on Sánchez!
The ball's high! The header! They bring it back in!
Cuesta nearly had it!
[suspenseful music playing]
[announcer 1] Is he gonna hit it? A chip? No passes to Di María. Álvarez waits.
There goes Di María! The cross!
The rebound! Look at that, falling to Vargas!
Beautiful play from Argentina. I loved that!
What a great move from Argentina!
What a lovely cutback from Di María! Leo had it!
[announcer 2] Colombia regains possession in Argentina's territory.
Lerma is up and launches a screamer.
Lerma!
Lerma lets his right foot fly late in the half!
Martinez in the goal, Dibu had to fly!
He lifts the cross, perfect range for a header.
Brought in the clear. He hits it off the bounce.
Arias Santiago!
[suspenseful music playing]
Di María, Ángel!
Vargas, the goalkeeper, brings it down.
-Oh, something's happened to Messi. -[announcer 3] Signals to the coach.
[announcer 1] He hits the ground. He's devastated.
He's devastated, he's leaving the field.
Oh, this is crushing for Leo.
Awful for Argentina, heartbreaking. Messi feels it too.
[announcer 3] Has he ever cried like this?
[announcer 1] Thank you, Leo, always. My God.
[announcer 2] Enzo! Here comes Enzo, plays it to Tagliafico.
González gets into the box! And goal!
Wait, wait, the flag is raised!
Why is he raising it? González called offside!
[announcer 1] Definitely offside.
[exclaiming]
[announcer 1] Come on Di María!
Into the middle. González, back.
González! He brings it down, wide!
I can't believe it! Oh!
[announcer 2] Ninety minutes of regulation time are done.
We're going to extra time, 30 minutes left to play.
Nil-nil, Colombia and Argentina.
[James] I didn't want to come off, I wanted to play.
I told Néstor, "Look, I'm tired, but I'm good. Let me keep playing."
And in the end, he said, "No, no, no, no. I'm putting Quintero on."
We have to think about the team.
[announcer 2] There goes James. A great match for him.
[announcer 1] De Paul goes. De Paul brings it forward.
Sends it to Di María. Here comes Di María.
What a move into the box!
De Paul charges in! He crosses!
And just stopped by Vargas!
[announcer 2] Vargas takes it first. The ball is inching its way towards.
They work it back to Quintero. He sends it off to Arias.
Arias, shake it up! Shot on goal!
Dibu walks up for the save.
What a smart play against Paredes.
That was a masterstroke. He's incredible.
Borja was close by. They break free, everyone's running wild!
What a kick!
Now the shot! No hesitation!
You watch that match, and either side could have scored.
It was such a close final.
[announcer 1] Let's go, Argentina. Paredes passes it off to Lo Celso. Toro.
Come on!
And goal! Goal, goal, goal, goal! Dammit!
Let them hear you! Goal!
Argentina!
[somber music playing]
[James] And well, when they hit you like that, my God.
I'm out there trying to stay strong.
It felt like the whole world came crashing down on us.
It was tough. That was a tough day.
We just needed a little more luck.
[announcer 2] Oh, look at that.
Free kick for Argentina, who is winning. Otamendi enters the pitch.
All of us, we were convinced we could win, we could do it, and, well…
We almost did.
[announcer 2] The Colombian team faces their defeat today with dignity.
I stand up and salute, salute our Colombian warriors!
[James] I remember they gave me the MVP trophy.
[announcer 2] The best player of the tournament…
[James] It was a strange feeling.
[announcer 2] …James.
[James] When you win something like that, you're supposed to be like, "Yeah!"
I accepted the award with my eyes puffy, like… I just felt awful, because…
MVP 2024 BEST PLAYER - COPA AMÉRICA
…I wanted to be holding the Copa América. I wanted us to be champions.
I'm very grateful to Néstor and the coaching staff.
The next day, on the plane back to Colombia,
I took out the trophy and I told Néstor,
"Look, this belongs as much to you as it does to me. Thank you."
"Because you believed in me when no one else did."
"So I believed in you too."
When someone takes a chance on you,
you've got to do everything you can for them.
[María] It's like his rebirth.
I could tell he was starting to get tired and bored
He regained a lot of things he had lost.
His love for football, I think.
His love, his passion.
I started enjoying myself more and more as the days went by.
When I got home, around three days later,
I looked around at all the trophies and said, "Wow, look at what I've done."
"Here's what I worked for."
You have to be proud of yourself, your accomplishments.
Be proud of the things that-- the things you do achieve.
And even though we didn't end up winning the cup itself,
we sure played like we were the champions.
Without a doubt.
You have to have a selective memory.
You wanna hold onto the good things, and that Copa América was incredible.
It-- It opened a whole new chapter.
-You have to do it like this. - How? Like this?
-Yeah. -What is this?
-"Clock it." -"Clock it."
[singing in Spanish]
[James] Being a father isn't about being the provider, it's about being there.
Giving them stability.
My father wasn't around.
Uh… that doesn't mean that I'll continue that same pattern.
You can change it.
[thoughtful music playing]
I've done a lot to try and heal, especially on the inside,
because we unknowingly carry this… this baggage.
Traumas, even just small ones,
little things that happen when you're a kid.
Maybe for me, it's the fact that my father wasn't around when I was a kid.
I let it go when I was a kid because I had the rest of my family.
But even if you don't realize it, it stays with you, doesn't it?
Growing up without him.
He left when I was one year old.
And in the last few years,
I've done things that have helped me to heal a bit.
FATHER
I've healed some things in my heart.
And It's helped me become a little… a little wiser.
[James] Alright, everyone ready to play?
What are we doing? Ten minutes or what? Oh, man.
See, I was with Dorado over there, and I, you know…
[James] And now, uh, I try to talk with him.
I try to spend time with him.
I think it doesn't help to keep that resentment in your heart.
Especially with your father.
What's done is done.
I know that he's made plenty of mistakes.
But he's… he's my father.
I've forgiven him, and I don't hold it against him anymore.
And now we have a good relationship.
We're not machines, you know?
We have our doubts.
We try to get rid of that uncertainty, don't we?
[inaudible]
Uh… I think I'm a different person now. [laughs] And that's a good thing.
And now, his goal is the World Cup. Qualifying for the World Cup.
"The last dance."
-[interviewer] "Last Dance"? -Maybe "The Last Dance."
"The Last Party."
2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
I think the team's in a good place.
It's a team with lots of talent, lots of drive and a lot of ambition.
I still have ambition.
It's a team that's hungry for more.
We've learned some lessons, had some bumps in the road.
We've lost some games.
[James] I think we've lost some to bad luck.
And we've had other games where we just didn't play well.
[announcer] For the first time in 50 years,
Ecuador has won against Colombia on Colombian soil!
It seems like we're much more comfortable against the bigger teams
because those teams, they play the same game we do.
[announcer] Give it your all, James.
James looks to score.
Rodríguez to strike, the 10 on his back.
James, with his left foot!
Goal!
I know we have a great team, we have a great squad.
[announcer] Taking out some frustration scoring against Argentina.
Yeah, I don't think I've ever scored against them. Never, right?
-[man] Never. -Well, first time for everything. [laughs]
We played a great game against Brazil.
[Díaz] With the goals we have, the faith and the confidence,
we know we're gonna put on an amazing performance.
[announcer 1] James sets it up beautifully for the header from Luis.
[announcer 2] Colombia 2, Brazil 1!
Then against Argentina, we played another really good game.
But it got away from us at the very end.
[announcer] Muñoz on the far side. He wants the shot!
Now's your chance!
Lucho, what a goal!
He put the crown on me, and I said, "Don't do it yet."
[laughs]
But he's such a humble guy. He always tries to support us.
To make sure we're happy.
And it's the most beautiful thing.
[blows whistle]
[announcer] One for Argentina, one for Colombia!
In our next game, we'll be at home.
I think we're gonna play it well and come out with a good win.
2025 COLOMBIA VS BOLIVIA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
[announcer 1] Colombia and Bolivia! The rival teams will square off today.
Their World Cup futures hang in the balance.
[announcer 2] Now Arias with a low cross. Who has it?
The ball is in!
Goal!
[Díaz] He's done it.
To take the national team to the World Cup again.
I think he was thinking all those nice things in his head.
Remembering what he's done that is important for his team.
[announcer] Colombia is here to party!
Through our spirit, through our heart, which is full again!
We are on the road to the World Cup!
[James] You know, this is my last chance.
I try to enjoy all of these games like they might be my last.
Because, now at 35, I don't know what'll happen.
She tells me, "Dad, you can't retire. Don't retire, don't retire."
I think he's definitely too young to retire.
I think he should at least play until he's maybe 41.
-Oh, God! [laughs] -[giggles]
[Díaz] He absolutely can keep going.
I know that I certainly want a few more years playing with him.
-Juanpa, there's a photo. -Yes.
It has gone completely viral.
After everyone else had left the field, one person stayed and took it in.
-[Juan Pablo] At the center. -[woman] Right.
[Juan Pablo] At the iconic Metropolitano, James Rodríguez.
The leader of the Colombian national team, the captain.
[thoughtful music playing]
[Marcelo] His childhood was rough, like it was for many others.
He started playing so young. People don't think about that.
SOCCER PLAYER
It's difficult when you're 16 and playing for your first team,
going to a new country.
He has a really powerful story in football.
[Pékerman] Like many before him, he's given so much to his national team.
COACH
He's part of this group of players, who,
no matter the criticism or praise they received,
have changed Colombia.
[Aguirre] The captain. He embodies everything that word means.
[Lorenzo] Having the presence of a beloved player,
one with personality, with history, who is respected on the field.
That's what a team needs.
[Angellot Caro] He's happy when he plays, leading his teammates.
You see him smiling, you see him motivated.
You see him happy. It's what you want for him, as a friend.
[Sergio Ramos] He's led his national team exceptionally well.
He captains it brilliantly, and everyone follows
because he leads through example.
It's not the number 10, and it's not the armband.
[announcer] James! Wow, wow, wow! What a goal!
[Aguirre] It'll be a long time until we see another left look like James's.
[crowd cheering]
That left foot. That left foot he has.
[Ramos] I think he's built a legacy defined by that golden left foot.
And by talent, by humility and by magic.
And his love and dedication to the national team.
[Caro] He deserves to have a statue made in Colombia.
Just like they did for Shakira.
FRIEND
Not just 'cause he's my friend.
[Aguirre] I hope kids wanna be like James.
And James has already become an inspiration.
[Mendes] He's a great role model for kids.
Any kid in Colombia wants to be James.
[Díaz] I think his most beautiful legacy is that.
People look up to him as a role model.
He's going to leave behind an enormous legacy.
He'll be the example forever.
For the children, for young people.
For kids who dream of becoming professional players.
He's the ideal role model.
After all these years, I learned that you have to live in the day-to-day
in what's happening… now.
What do you think I'm gonna do when I'm done playing football?
Well, of course,
spending lots of time with your family,
but I also picture you always on vacation at the beach. You know?
["No Quiero Envejecer" by Lucho y Rafa playing]
BARÚ ISLAND CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
[singing in Spanish]
[James] I don't know if this is my last dance. I still don't know.
It's too soon to start thinking about that.
Since the first day I put on this jersey, it's been my life.
And it'll be my life until I take it off.
[cheering]
I'll defend my country until I'm not able to do it.
That's the legacy I wanna leave
for the kids who dream of wearing these beautiful colors.
[lively music playing]
To give your life to the team of your country and its people too.
I feel like some people think they won't get that far.
-[James] Really? -But I believe.
My dream is to be a world champion.
Until then, I'll enjoy this dance not as if it were the last.
But as if it were the first.
[crowd cheering]
[lively music continues] st.