Former Real Madrid -midfielder James Rodriguez has said that people like Zinedine Zidane, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Xavi were not a match for him in his Prime.
James stood up for his performances at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and noted eight goals involvement (six goals, two assists) for Colombia during the tournament.
He became the first player to score in every game in which he played during the World Cup since Jairzinho did this for Brazil at the 1970 edition.
James picked up the Golden Boot during the tournament when Colombia was eliminated by Brazil in the quarterfinals, although the Golden Ball missed Lionel Messi.
The versions of the Colombians caught the attention of Madrid, who completed a reported £ 63 million deal to protect its services to Ligue 1 Side Monaco.
James would make 125 performances in all competitions for Los Blancos, of which only 94 scored 37 goals from the start and scored 42 assists.
He then won nine major awards with Madrid, including the Champions League in 2015-16 and 2016-17, before he was sent on loan to Bayern Munich.
James eventually left Madrid in 2020 and enjoyed Proverbs in Everton, Olympiacos and Rayo Vallecano, but now plays his football in Mexico with Leon.
But when he was questioned about his time in the Spanish capital, Rodriguez believed that he was better at the height of his powers than some galacticos.
“Zidane was very good. In his Prime he won the World Cup, but … James. In my Prime, James,” he said. He repeated the same answer when he was asked to choose between himself and Modric, Kroos and Xavi.
Nueva Semana, Una Nueva Oportunidad. pic.twitter.com/WAI65FBLFN
– James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) 11 March 2025
James also tipped the current Talisman of Madrid, Jude Bellingham, to lift the prestigious Ballon d'Or on one day because of his excellent displays since he came to the club.
After helping Madrid to Champions League and Laliga Glory in his first season in the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham finished third in the ranking, a place behind teammate Vinicius Junior when Rodri van Manchester City won the prize.
Since the switch to Madrid, Bellingham has registered 34 goals and 24 assists in 81 performances in all competitions, where his debut campaign saw him notch 36 target statements (23 goals, 13 assists) in front of Carlo Ancelotti.
After James' impressions in 2014, he finished eighth in the balloon d'Or, but acknowledged that he was against Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I scored more than 14 goals and 15 assists, I think. It was a spectacular year, similar to the year that Bellingham had in his first season. I really love the way he plays,” he said.
“I think he could win a balloon d'Or. Of course, to win the balloon d'or, I had Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi, [Luis] Suarez, Neymar … in 2014.
“I finished eighth, with these big ones for me. Yes, I would have liked to win the balloon d'Or. I came in the neighborhood, but it is true that I was more focused on winning titles such as the Champions League.”
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