Last dance. Former Real Madrid star to retire after 2026 World Cup
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
James Rodríguez may hang up his professional boots after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to sources close to the player, the legendary Colombian midfielder sees the upcoming tournament as his final major competition, as reported by AS Colombia.
It is expected that after the 2026 World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton star will make his final decision to retire—something he has already communicated to his current club, according to the source.
To recap, the 34-year-old midfielder joined Minnesota United this February, signing a contract through the summer of 2026 with an option to extend until the end of the year. James became the highest-paid player in the club's history, earning around $5 million per year.
However, his American adventure has gotten off to a challenging start. In the spring, the Colombian star encountered health issues. After an international friendly between Colombia and France, reports surfaced of dehydration and even a brief hospitalization for the player.
