James Rodríguez may not have quite become the legendary footballer many once predicted he would be. However, there is no doubt about his status as Colombia’s undisputed ‘sex icon,’ thanks to over a decade of high-profile romances, breakups, and a dazzling presence in the modeling world. Now 34, James is set to take the field on Thursday for Colombia’s opening World Cup match against Uzbekistan. He shot to global fame after winning the Golden Boot for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup; the playmaker, who was playing for Monaco at the time, achieved overnight stardom.
Following his stellar World Cup performance, Spanish giants Real Madrid signed him in a deal worth £63 million—a move that propelled his life to new heights. James Rodríguez began turning heads off the pitch as well as on it. Capitalizing on his newfound fame, he signed a commercial deal with the South American fashion brand Éxito. That same year, the Spanish edition of People magazine named him the ‘Sexiest Man Alive.’ A year later, he participated in a photoshoot to launch his own underwear brand, ‘J10 James.’ A succession of commercial endorsements followed.
At the time, James was married to Daniela Ospina. In 2016, he became a global brand ambassador for Calvin Klein, appearing on billboards wearing nothing but the brand’s underwear. He had met Daniela during his teenage years; she was the sister of former Arsenal star and James’s Colombian teammate, David Ospina. James married Daniela—a professional volleyball player—in 2010, when he was just 19 years old. They had a daughter together, whom they named Salomé. At one time, they were known as one of the most popular couples in the Colombian sports world.
However, after James joined Real Madrid, his rising fame began to impact their relationship. As their life goals and priorities shifted, the couple drifted apart. Eventually, in 2017, they announced their separation, ending a marriage that had lasted over six years. Prior to this, rumors had already circulated about a relationship between James and model Helga Lovekaty. Various reports also cited his decision to move to Bayern Munich on loan as a contributing factor to the relationship’s breakdown; Daniela was not keen on moving to Germany.
After returning to single life, James frequently made headlines due to rumored links with various women. Rumors of a relationship with American adult film star Kendra Lust also surfaced after the two began following each other on Instagram. In 2018, during a trip to Miami, he met model Shannon de Lima. Before long, the two began living together in Munich. A year later, their son Samuel was born via surrogacy. However, distance eventually strained their relationship as James moved to Everton on loan and later joined the Qatari club Al-Rayyan. The pressures of a long-distance relationship led to their separation in 2021.
Later, rumors of a relationship with Colombian singer Karol G circulated after a photo of the two was released. Reports also emerged linking him to Brazilian model Erika Schneider; speculation arose after they interacted with each other’s social media posts and appeared together at public events. Schneider was even spotted in the stands during a World Cup qualifying match between Colombia and Brazil. However, news of a new relationship between James and Colombian model Luisa Duque surfaced early last year. Reports claimed they were seen together at an NBA game involving the Minnesota Timberwolves after he joined Major League Soccer. Colombian media also reported that James had introduced Luisa to his family. Luisa has even been spotted spending time with James’s daughter, Salome, in the VIP stands during recent Colombia matches.
As he prepares to play in his third World Cup this summer, James might look back on a career that has been vibrant yet marked by a sense of incompleteness. He never won the Ballon d’Or, but he has certainly carved out a distinct identity as one of world football’s most captivating stars.
(Source: The Sun)
