The 23-year-old Colombia forward James Rodriguez was celebrated after being awarded the Golden Boot for finishing as the top scorer of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rodriguez scored six goals in five matches-ahead of Germany forward Thomas Muller-having his side play in the quarter-finals against Brazil.

James Rodriguez began his career at Envigado and later in 2009 he joined the Argentine club Banfield and then moved to Europe with Porto the following year. He won the 2012 Portuguese Golden Ball at the age of 20 and he was dubbed as the youngest player to achieve the feat. At the age of 21, Rodriguez won three consecutive league titles alongside with Porto.

The four goals scored by Rodriguez were matched by Brazil striker Neymar and Netherlands forward Robin van Persie. His goals helped his team progress further in the World Cup than they have had before. He scored against Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan as they topped Group C before netting twice, one a sublime volley, during the 2-0 last-16 win against Uruguay. Rodriguez's final goal was a late consolation from the penalty spot as Colombia lost 2-1 to Brazil.

This all said and done, Colombia has a lot to look forward to for the upcoming leagues and tournaments. Their performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup was promising and a lot can be derived from the experiences they have had. For certainty, this achievement for the team will open new doors not only for the careers of the athletes but for their compatriots as well.