Colombian soccer captain James Rodriguez was admitted to hospital for three days following severe dehydration after a friendly match against France, the Colombian soccer federation announced on Thursday. The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Everton forward participated in Sunday’s World Cup warm-up fixture held in Landover, Maryland, where Colombia suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Rodriguez was substituted in the 63rd minute after showing signs of sluggishness and appearing disconnected during the game. The federation confirmed he experienced symptoms of severe dehydration that necessitated hospitalization over the past 72 hours.
He was taken to a hospital in Minnesota, where he currently plays for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United, for preventive clinical monitoring and recovery. Minnesota United has confirmed that Rodriguez is recuperating and will provide an update on his availability for this weekend’s match against LA Galaxy on Friday.
Rodriguez joined Minnesota United in February but has only managed 39 minutes of playtime so far due to injury setbacks. The federation clarified that his recent hospitalization is unrelated to those previous injuries. His physical condition remains uncertain as Colombia prepares for its World Cup campaign this summer, where they will compete in Group K against Uzbekistan, DR Congo, and Portugal.
Rodriguez was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup, which led to his transfer to Real Madrid shortly afterward. He continues to be a key figure in the Colombian national team. However, head coach Nestor Lorenzo has faced criticism for starting Rodriguez in the recent friendlies against France and Croatia despite the player’s limited match fitness.
