Khaberni - A state of concern prevailed in the Colombian sports circles after the announcement that the captain of the national team and star of the American club Minnesota United, James Rodriguez, was suddenly hospitalized, 69 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
The Colombian national team recently played two matches against Croatia and France in the United States in preparation for the World Cup. Rodriguez played 63 minutes in each match, with his team losing 2-1 and then 3-1.
Not a Field Injury
The Colombian Football Federation confirmed in an official statement that the top scorer of the 2014 World Cup was under medical observation for 72 hours after suffering from a severe case of dehydration, the symptoms of which appeared the day after a friendly match against France.
The national team's medical staff emphasized that the health issue was "non-sports-related", indicating that it was not related to any muscle or structural injuries that could impede his football activities, and reassured fans that the 34-year-old player is showing significant and continuous improvement.
The Heat Challenge and Absence Concerns
Reports linked Rodriguez's health condition to the significant physical exertion he experienced in the friendly matches against Croatia and France, where he played 63 minutes in each under high temperatures reaching 26 degrees Celsius.
It is expected that "the golden boy" will miss his next match for his team, Minnesota United in the American League against Los Angeles Galaxy as a precautionary measure.
The Last Dream
James, who has had a distinguished career in Europe with clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton, hopes to lead "Los Cafeteros" to their farthest point in the 2026 World Cup (America, Mexico, Canada), especially after the national team missed the Qatar 2022 edition.
Rodriguez recently expressed optimism about the tournament being held in North America, saying:
"Playing here is very positive; the stadiums are filled with yellow every time we play. It will be an amazing sight that we hope the fans will enjoy in every detail."
Colombia will play alongside Uzbekistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Portugal, and fans have high hopes for their historic captain's readiness to regain the brilliance that amazed the world 12 years ago in Brazil.
