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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="better-collective-widget">{"type":"better-collective-widget","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Ex-Real Madrid star skippers his country</li><li>Pulls creative strings in playmaking post</li><li>Topped the achievements of all-time great</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

James Rodriguez gives emotional speech after breaking Lionel Messi record as Colombia set up Copa America final against Argentina

<p>The former Real Madrid star, who now plays his club football in Brazil for Sao Paulo, has been a talismanic presence for his country since making a senior international debut in 2011. He has over 100 caps to his name and has retained his creative qualities at 32 years of age.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>James is currently turning out at his fourth Copa, having first graced that competition in 2015, and has become the leading assist maker in a single edition of that tournament – dating back to 2011, when records first began to be counted.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">James Rodríguez's is the first player on record (since 2011) with six assists in a single edition of a Copa America, surpassing Lionel Messi (five assists in 2021).<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/URUCOL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#URUCOL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CopaAmerica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CopaAmerica</a> <a href="https://t.co/MHDxmPyv28">pic.twitter.com/MHDxmPyv28</a></p>— Opta Analyst US (@OptaAnalystUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaAnalystUS/status/1811201445506556177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Argentine superstar Messi had set that bar at five in 2021, when inspiring the Albiceleste to continental glory, but James has posted six in 2024. His efforts have<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/darwin-nunez-copa-america-uruguay-colombia-winners-losers/blteac4a162468e6ef2" target="_blank"> lined up a final date with the current holders of the World Cup crown</a>.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>James told <a href="https://www.tycsports.com/copa-america/james-rodriguez-la-emocion-por-llegar-a-la-final-y-el-record-que-le-saco-a-messi-id595520.html " target="_blank"><em>TyC Sports</em></a> after teeing up Jefferson Lerma’s match-winning goal in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/video-liverpool-star-darwin-nunez-consoles-son-fight-fans-copa-america-semi-final-clash-uruguay-colombia/bltb460ae52050815aa" target="_blank">a chaotic semi-final showdown with Uruguay</a>: “We had an excellent game. The referee was not good. The boys who defended did well. The game was very complicated, against a very tough opponent, but we won a well-deserved place in the final. I've been here for almost 13 years, wanting this. We're happy.”</p>

WHAT JAMES SAID

<p>James has registered six assists through five games, while also finding the target himself from the penalty spot in a crushing 5-0 quarter-final win over Panama. He is now captain of his nation, with vast experience being put to good use.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

James Rodriguez gives emotional speech after breaking Lionel Messi record as Colombia set up Copa America final against Argentina | Goal.com Kenya

James Rodriguez delivered an emotional speech after breaking a record held by Lionel Messi and helping Colombia into the 2024 Copa America final.