James is world’s best, claims Valderrama
kolkata — Colombian legend Carlos Valderrama feels that Bayern Munich star James Rodriguez is one of the best footballers in the world and can become the country’s greatest player after him.
“I don’t think there cannot be anyone like me. There is James,” Valderrama told IANS.
“He is very good and one of the best in the world. Why can he not become the greatest,” the former Colombian captain asked.
The 56-year-old skippered his national team to three World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998) and is the country’s most capped player. The three-time South American Footballer of the Year (1987, 1993 and 1999) was pivotal in Colombia’s journey to the knockout stages of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
They were eventually knocked out in the Round of 16 when the legendary Roger Milla came on as a “super sub” and scored twice in extra-time as Cameroon defeated Colombia 2-1 to become the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
The South American side were knocked out in the group stages of the following two World Cups in 1994 and 1998.
Colombia failed to qualify for the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups before James lit up the 2014 edition in Brazil, scoring six goals as the team registered their bestever finish by reaching the quarters where they lost 1-2 to Brazil.
“The future of Colombian football is very bright. The players play in the best teams in Europe and in the best leagues,” Valderrama said. Asked to rate the team of the 1990’s against the current one, which is ranked eighth, Vaderrama said teams of two different eras cannot be compared. —