James Rodríguez after leaving Olympiakos (in April 2023) of Greece went to Brazil and played for Sao Paulo. In July 2024, he was in excellent playing condition with the Colombian national team and even reached the final, where he faced Lionel Messi's Argentina and was defeated 1-0. Where he also lost the trophy. But his performance was impressive and he was named MVP of the Copa America. Thus seeing and thinking again that there is a difference at the level of Europe and Latin America, he dissolved by common consent his collaboration with São Paulo and within a short period of time he agreed (as he was free) with the Spanish Rayo Vallecano. The left-footed midfielder returns to Madrid for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2020, when he was then transferred to Everton.

Rodríguez began his career with Envigado, who he helped win promotion to the first division, becoming the second-youngest Colombian footballer to make his professional debut after John Jairo Mosquera, aged 14 years, 5 months and 9 days.

He was then acquired by Banfield in Argentina. In the summer of 2010, he took the big step in his career, after moving to Europe on behalf of Porto, where he built his name. With the "dragons" he won three championships, a Cup and a Europa League.