(FILES) Colombia's midfielder James Rodriguez waves at the crowd as he leaves the field during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualification football match between Colombia and Uruguay at the Roberto Melendez Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on October 12, 2023. Star player James Rodriguez announced on September 15, 2026, that he was retiring from the Colombian national team, a decision that brings to an end a 15-year international career in which he established himself as one of the finest footballers in the country's history. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP via Getty Images)