The rise of James Rodriguez

In 2008, he was signed by Argentine team Club Atlético Banfield, where he made his first team debut on 7 February 2009, he scored his first goal for the club on 27th of February with a long range strike in a 3–1 victory over Rosario Central.

On the 6th of July 2010, Rodríguez was signed by FC Porto. On 15 December 2010, Rodríguez scored his first goal in European football in a 3–1 home victory for Porto against CSKA Sofia.

Rodríguez won the Portuguese Golden Ball award in 2012, becoming the second Colombian after Radamel Falcao to win the award, as well as being the youngest player ever to hold the honour. In his final season at Porto he scored 13 goals and provided 15 assists within 32 appearances and helped his side win the league title. This meant that Rodríguez won his eighth trophy since joining Porto in 2009, just after three seasons spent in Europe and at only 21 years of age. This included three succesive league titles.

During the 2011 U-20 World Cup, he was named captain of his national side Colombia and scored three goals and provided three assists. It was at this tournament that he gained international attention as a promising youngster. Despite Colombia losing in the quarter-finals against Mexico, Rodríguez gained attention from many big clubs in Europe, and received praise from Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson.

Rodríguez received his first call-up to the Colombian senior side against Bolivia and went on to score his first goal for Colombia against Peru. He played an integral role in allowing Colombia to return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.

On 24 May 2013, it was announced that Rodríguez had joined French side AS Monaco. He signed a five-year contract making him not only one of the most expensive transfers in the club's history.

Rodríguez ended his debut season without a trophy, but managed to help Monaco secure a spot in the following season's UEFA Champions League, and earn a place in the star Ligue 1 XI, as well as becoming the assist leader in Ligue 1.

Rodriguez had an exceptional World Cup where many thought he was deserved of the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament. While he did not recieve this award, he was named in the team of the tournament and won the Golden Boot with six goals in five matches as Colombia reached the quarter-finals.

Rodriguez scored a total of six goals in five games for Los Cafiteros and illuminated every game he played in. His volley against Uruguay in the round of 16 was simple remarkable – not only was it technically perfect, but to attempt what he did required an abundance of self-belief in his ability as well as the confidence to try something in such an important match. It was a sudden death match, not a group game. The ball fell to the 22-year-old outside the area; he controlled the ball on his chest and then, as it fell, on the turn he volleyed from distance past the Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to put Colombia 1-0 up. The strike slammed home against the underside of the bar, making it look even more spectacular.

After his phenomenal World Cup, Rodriguez was signed by Real Madrid on a six-year deal worth around $115 million. Rodriguez's move is the fourth most expensive transfer of all time after those of new team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Luis Suarez.