Ramón Jesurún, president of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), bid farewell to James Rodríguez and revealed that he asked him not to retire from the Colombian national team: “A legend.”

On September 15, 2026, Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez announced the end of his career with the Colombia national football team through a video posted on his Instagram account.

Following the announcement, Ramón Jesurún, president of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF), publicly bid farewell to the player, acknowledging him as a "legend" and revealing that he had personally asked Rodríguez not to retire from the national selection.

The departure also prompted a public response from Rodríguez's mother, who reflected on the experience by stating, "A dream that we lived together," as reported by regional coverage following the federation's official statements.