James Rodriguez breaks Lionel Messi record and gets so emotional he has to stop interview
If you think Carlo Ancelotti has turned his career around since leaving Everton, wait until you hear about James Rodriguez.
Rodriguez played under the five-time Champions League winner at Goodison Park for the 2020/21 season before entering a footballing wilderness.
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He’s now emerged in spectacular fashion, becoming Colombia’s talisman as they qualified for their first Copa America final since 2001.
Los Cafeteros booked their spot against Argentina in Miami with a 1-0 win over Uruguay and it was again thanks to Rodriguez who put the ball on the head of Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma to win the match from a corner in the 39th minute.
That was the former Porto and Real Madrid star’s sixth assist of the tournament, a new record, beating Lionel Messi’s five from the 2021 edition.
Speaking post-match and completely unable to contain his emotions, Rodriguez, who was 10 when Colombia last made the final, had to cut off his interview.
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"For me… I've been here for almost 13 years, wanting this…” he said before taking a deep breath to stop the tears. “We're happy,” he added and then walked away.
Rodriguez, 32, is currently playing for Sao Paulo after stints at Al-Rayyan and Olympiacos and has returned to such a high level that CONMEBOL named him Man of the Match for his semi-final heroics.
Among the many tributes to the 2014 Golden Boot winner, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz led the charge saying the triumph was all about Rodriguez.
He even got emotional talking about his international teammate.
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"I told him, I've always let James know, since I got to the National Team, I let him know that he's always been my idol, him, and Falcao, and Cuadrado whom I watched play on TV, being able to share with them fills me with pride.
"I always tell him (James), 'You are great, I admire you so much, you deserve it'.
"He deserves it, this is his Cup, no doubt. We're seeing him at his best. We know what he's gone through, what he's suffered. Football is a sport of moments.
"Football gave him revenge, and he's showing he has a lot of class, a lot of ability...to give an assist, to play football how it's supposed to be played, so he deserves it, he really deserves it."
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