With one kick, Colombia national soccer team captain James Rodríguez became a global star, but the pressures that followed almost broke him.
Ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, Netflix is spotlighting the man behind one of the greatest goals ever scored in the tournament.
In 2014, James Rodríguez became a global sensation at the World Cup in Brazil, with a goal so spectacular it won FIFA’s Puskás Award.
James. — a three-part documentary series premiering May 21 on Netflix — tracks the Colombian star’s career, starting with his emergence as a young prodigy and exploring how his historic World Cup moment catapulted him to new levels of fame and expectations from his country and the most legendary clubs around the world.
The face of Colombian soccer, now known simply as James, the midfielder has played for some of the most iconic clubs in the toughest leagues, including Real Madrid C.F., F.C. Bayern Munich, Everton F.C., and F.C. Porto, winning UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, and LaLiga titles along the way.
James’s breakout 2014 World Cup performance was highlighted by the mesmerizing chest-to-foot volley that he sent into the back of the net, leading Colombia to a 2-0 upset over star-studded Uruguay in the round of 16. His six total goals in the tournament earned him the Golden Boot award, while leading Colombia to their best finish to date in the quarterfinals.
Salomé Rodríguez Ospina and James Rodríguez
While his success as a member of the Colombia national team is etched in history after the 2014 World Cup, James hasn’t performed to that level with his numerous clubs since.
“It’s a completely different feeling to play for your country,” he shares in the James. trailer. “Every game I play for Colombia is a dream.”
After the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, James — a recent member of Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United F.C. — is now preparing for his final tournament with Colombia that kicks off June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Luis Díaz
In addition to hearing from James, the documentary features interviews with the likes of Luis Díaz, Carlo Ancelotti, Sergio Ramos, Radamel Falcao, David Ospina, José Néstor Pekerman, and Néstor Lorenzo, among others.
The launch of James. follows the recent release of Ronaldinho: The One and Only,which highlights the life and career of the Brazilian soccer legend.
The critically acclaimed sports documentary series Untold expanded its borders to highlight the world of English soccer through the stories of unlikely Premier League legend Jamie Vardy, Liverpool’s miraculous 2005 Champions League–winning team, and controversial professional player-turned-actor Vinnie Jones.
Additional soccer content on Netflix includes Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team, which documents the squad’s effort to win the 2023 title; the Emmy-nominated Beckham; Captains of the World; a José Mourinho episode of The Playbook; and Vini Jr.
Netflix will exclusively broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States and Canada for the 2027 and 2031 tournaments.
