Former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez was rushed to the hospital after playing in Colombia’s friendly match against France due to a sudden illness.
The match, held in Maryland, USA, saw Colombia lose 3-1. James played for 63 minutes before being substituted.
At the final whistle, James suffered severe dehydration, leading to his immediate hospitalization. His condition worsened the following day, requiring him to be transferred to a hospital in Minnesota, where he was kept under observation for 72 hours.
According to an official statement from the Colombian Football Federation, the 34-year-old’s condition has improved significantly in recent hours, and he has been discharged from the hospital after being given a clean bill of health.
James’s illness is not related to any muscle injury or his football activity, but rather a sudden occurrence, possibly due to poor nutrition before the match or insufficient water intake.
It is worth noting that the Colombian international, who plays for the American club Minnesota, has only played 39 minutes this season with his team due to various muscle injuries, but he remains his country’s first choice in the 2026 World Cup, when the Latin American team will face Portugal, Uzbekistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the group stage.
