"In 2014, James Rodríguez took the world by storm," Netflix says in the trailer for its upcoming three-part documentary series. That's accurate. What came after is more complicated.
The series, simply titled James, drops on May 21 — just weeks before Colombia kick off the 2026 World Cup against Uzbekistan in Mexico City on June 17. The timing is deliberate. Director Simón Brand has crafted a portrait of the man behind Colombia's iconic No. 10, covering his 2014 breakthrough in Brazil, the move to Real Madrid, a stint at Bayern Munich, and eventually a landing spot at Minnesota United in MLS.
A career that hit peaks most players never see
At 34, James has Champions League, La Liga, and Bundesliga medals. He scored the only goal in World Cup history to win the FIFA Puskás Award — a curling volley against Uruguay that people still replay on a loop. He won the 2014 Golden Boot. He joins Ronaldinho, Beckham, Neymar, Pelé, and Di Maria on Netflix's growing list of football documentary subjects, which tells you exactly what tier of player he's considered globally.
He has never won a Copa América or a World Cup with Colombia. The documentary, by Netflix's own description, will go into "pressure, sacrifice, triumph, and heartbreak, both on and off the pitch." There's plenty of material.
The form question Colombia can't ignore
Right now, James is a concern. Since signing with Minnesota United in February, he's logged just 103 minutes across four of the club's first 11 MLS matches — sidelined by visa issues, injury, medical appointments, and a hospitalization for severe dehydration. No goals. No assists.
He's assured fans he'll arrive at the tournament in "excellent form." That's the kind of thing players say. Whether it materializes is what actually matters when Colombia face Portugal on June 27 in Miami to close out Group K.
- June 17 — Colombia vs. Uzbekistan, Mexico City
- June 23 — Colombia vs. DR Congo, Monterrey
- June 27 — Colombia vs. Portugal, Miami
His contract at Minnesota runs only through June 30, with a club option to extend through the end of the 2026 MLS season. Given his impact so far, it's hard to see the Loons rushing to trigger it. The 2026 World Cup may genuinely be James's last act on the biggest stage — and right now, Minnesota's odds of keeping him afterward look considerably longer than Colombia's odds of getting past the group.
