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When James Rodríguez touched down in Minnesota, it sent shockwaves through the soccer community—how did the hero of the 2014 World Cup end up at an MLS side far removed from the high-profile ranks of Inter Miami, LAFC, and LA Galaxy?
While the Loons managed to attract the Colombian star, his time with the club may already be drawing to a close, with the possibility that the next three matches could be his final home appearances, as only four more games are guaranteed under his current deal.
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The 34-year-old officially signed with Minnesota United on Feb. 6, agreeing to a contract through June 30, with the aim of getting him into peak condition to represent Colombia at his third World Cup.
Minnesota holds an option to extend the agreement through the end of 2026, but given how things have unfolded so far, exercising it may not be the smartest move. James didn't make his debut until March 15 in a 6–0 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps and has since logged just 103 minutes across four MLS appearances, contributing no goals or assists.
James has arrived 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/QyZmj4twHP
Initially, it took James several weeks to build up enough fitness to play meaningful minutes, with his March debut for the Loons being his first action since appearing for Colombia back in November. He was later hospitalized with severe dehydration following his involvement with La Tricolor during the March international break and needed time to recover from that ordeal.
Last week, he also sat out a 3–2 victory over Columbus Crew due to what the club described as a "previously scheduled routine medical procedure." Despite his limited involvement, Minnesota have put together an impressive season, accumulating 20 points from 11 games, with the Colombian having made minimal impact.
"We've had a few unexpected situations that have kept him out of contention," manager Cameron Knowles told Sirius XM. "Then there's the team's form to consider; it's hard to disrupt a winning side, and we've been very consistent with our lineup choices, relying on a core group of players for heavy workloads."
Would Minnesota Pick Up James's Option?
While Minnesota has the option to retain the Colombian star for the remainder of the season, both the club and the player have remained noncommittal about what happens after the World Cup.
For James, reaching the 2026 World Cup was a primary motivation for choosing MLS and Minnesota, and without that objective, there may be little incentive to stay. Meanwhile, Minnesota United chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad told the Pioneer Press that the club would "take this as it comes."
Although he is not on a Designated Player contract—leaving Minnesota with flexibility in the summer transfer window—the attention surrounding James may not be entirely desirable. The player himself may already be eyeing his next move.
"There's still a month left and, well, I'm working hard, training at full intensity, giving everything I have, just as I always do," James said. "So whatever minutes come my way here, I think things will go well."
Minnesota's final match before the World Cup is a home fixture against Real Salt Lake on May 22, after which James is expected to shift his focus to Colombia's World Cup pre-camp and their June 17 opener against Uzbekistan.