Health Issues for James Rodríguez Following Friendly Match Against France

Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodríguez has encountered health problems following a friendly match against France, which ended with a score of 1-3 in favor of the French team. This was reported by the Colombian publication El Tiempo, citing the press service of the Colombian Football Federation.

According to information provided by a medical center in Minnesota, Rodríguez is under the supervision of specialists due to an illness that is unrelated to his sporting activities. The day after the match against France, the player was found to be severely dehydrated, necessitating a 72-hour hospitalization for preventive and recovery monitoring.

The Colombian Football Federation emphasized that this situation is not related to any injuries and will not affect the further development of Rodríguez's football career. Fortunately, the current medical report indicates positive dynamics and a steady improvement in the player's condition. The national team's medical staff is maintaining close communication with Minnesota United Football Club to carefully monitor Rodríguez's health.

On behalf of the Colombian Football Federation, well wishes for a speedy and complete recovery were expressed for Rodríguez. It is known that the 34-year-old player took the field in the match against France from the very beginning and was substituted in the 63rd minute.

James Rodríguez joined the Mexican club León in January of last year. In the current season, he has played 14 matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists. Rodríguez is best known for his performances with clubs such as Porto, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. With the Royal Club, he won the Champions League twice.

Since making his debut for the Colombian national team in 2011, Rodríguez has played 124 matches and scored 31 goals, becoming the team captain. In 2014, he helped the national team reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, becoming the tournament's top scorer with six goals.

It is worth noting that in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, the Colombian national team will compete in the same group as the teams from Portugal, Uzbekistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The latter two teams will be participating in the World Cup for the first time.

Earlier reports indicated that Italian national team goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emotionally expressed his feelings about his team's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.