SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It was only two summers ago that James Rodríguez went to Brazil and pilfered the global spotlight from the more established stars assembled at the World Cup.
Wearing the No. 10 jersey for Colombia, Rodríguez was marvelous, leading his team on a jubilant romp to the quarterfinals. He scored a tournament-best six goals, including two — a roguish toe-flick over a goalkeeper to cap a squiggly dribbling run and a 180-degree-turning, left-footed volley walloped in from 25 yards — that offered particularly tantalizing indications of an immense skill set.
Fans worldwide were charmed.