Sport
The greatest Colombia XI of all time
When it comes to colour and passion in football, there are few places that display more vividly than Colombia. The South American nation has been a regional powerhouse for decades and has produced a regular breadth of high-quality players. This success has spilt onto the international scene with Los Cafeteros having appeared in 6 world cups including a run to the last eight in 2014. They have always been a threat in the Copa America too proven by their win at the 2001 edition on home soil. With such a rich history, there have been generations of stars that have shone for Colombia down the years. But who would make Colombia’s greatest XI of all time?
GK: Rene Higuita
There is no-one who has showcased Colombia’s colourful footballing personality quite like Rene Higuita. Higuita’s flamboyance made him a true trendsetter when it came to goalkeeping. This came from athletic saves, attacking prowess and the rare ability to score goals. This personality was captured vividly in a match against England where he famously scorpion kicked a cross clear in 1995. Outside of this, Higuita was a skilful player that won plenty of accolades. This included winning the Copa Libertadores with Atletico National in 1989 as well as earning two nominations in the South American Team of the Year. After retiring in 2009, Higuita was named a Golden Foot legend for the accomplishments throughout his career.
RB: Ivan Cordoba
A versatile defender throughout his entire career, Ivan Cordoba shone no matter where he was played on the pitch. This came thanks to Cordoba’s skilful nature on the ball, strength off it and excellent aerial abilities. After rising through the ranks in both Colombia and Argentina, it would a move to Italy with Inter Milan that shot him to superstardom. He would become a legend with Inter making over 300 appearances for the club over a 12-year period. Cordoba won a host of titles such as 5 Serie A titles as well the 2010 UEFA Champions League and 2010 FIFA Club World Club. Alongside these trophies, Cordoba was named Inter’s Club Player of the Year in 2011 and included in the 1999 South American Team of the Year. A true star.
LB: Juan Cuadrado
Juan Cuadrado has spent his whole career evolving himself in one way or another. The flamboyant long-haired marvel started off as a winger with bags of tricks to evolving into a strong and enduring wing-back. Aside from a short spell with English side Chelsea, Cuadrado has spent almost his entire career in Italy. Promising spells with Udinese and Fiorentina showcased his talent but his time with Juventus is what has defined him into a generational talent. Slotting into a full-back roll with The Bianconieri, Cuadrado has barely missed a game over seven seasons with the club. This has brought plenty of silverware including 2 Scudetto clean sweeps and 5 overall Serie A titles. Cuadrado’s excellent creativity has been further cemented by wining top assists in both the 2020/21 Champions League campaign and the 2014 World Cup. A modern-day legend that never disappoints.
CB: Mario Yepes
There are perhaps fewer centre-backs that haven’t quite got the global recognition they deserved quite like Mario Yepes. Known for his fearless attitude, superior aerial abilities and excellent tackling, Yepes earned plaudits no matter who he played for. Earning the moniker “Super Mario”, Yepes was seen as a natural leader at several top sides such as Paris Saint-Germain, River Plate and AC Milan. This brought a host of trophies to his home including the 2011 Serie A title and 2 Argentine Primera Division titles. However, Yepes’ crowning moment was leading Colombia to victory at the 2001 Copa America where they won the tournament on home soil. This was the defining moment of a national career that awarded him 102 caps and solidified him as a national hero.
CB: Luis Perea
Few centre-backs have matched pace and power quite like Luis Perea. Never afraid to give his all for his side, Perea shone wherever he played. After impressing for Independiente Medellin, Perea would spend most of his time in Spain shining for Atletico Madrid. Perea maintained a constant presence in an ever-improving Atletico side who rose to become title challengers during his time at the club. This brought a wealth of silverware including 2 UEFA Europa League titles in 2010 and 2012. Perea eventually left Spain 2012 to join Cruz Azul in 2012 and helped them win both the 2013 Liga MX title and the 2014 CONCACAF Champions League before retiring in 2014.
CM: Freddy Rincon
Colombia have produced plenty of versatile midfielders but few could zip about quite like Freddy Rincon. Rincon had pace to spare and could leave defenders behind in mere seconds sprinting down the touchline. Being able to be deployed on either flank, Rincon was a weapon that any team wanted in their arsenal. It was why he shone for clubs both in Europe and South America playing for the like of Real Madrid, Napoli, Palmeiras and Corinthians. It was his time in Sao Paulo with Corinthians that Rincon was best remembered for winning back to back Brazilian Serie A titles in 1998 and 1999 – being named the Bola De Prata winner in 1999. He was also a key part of the 2001 Copa America winning side ending his international career shortly afterwards. Rincon would eventually retire in 2004 having had a glittering career that crossed the globe.
CM: Carlos Valderrama
There are fewer iconic looking players quite like Carlos Valderrama. Known for his trademark frizzy blonde afro, Valderrama was unmissable on the pitch. But the same could be said for his footballing talents. Able to thread pinpoint passes and carve openings with ease, Valderrama was always at the heart of his team’s attacking moves. He did this across Europe and South America starring for the likes of French side Montpellier, former MLS side Tampa Bay Mutiny and top Colombian sides like Deportivo Cali and Junior. His rich skillset brought a wealth of accolades throughout his career including being named 2X South American Footballer of the Year as well as in the MLS All-Time Best XI. His legendary status was solidified when he was named Colombia’s greatest footballer of the 20th Century showcasing his prowess anywhere on the pitch.
CM: James Rodriguez
For many, James Rodriguez has been one of the poster boys of modern Colombian football. The talented playmaker could win games single-handedly unlocking defences with sneaky passes and lashing goals home from distance. This rich skillset has seen Rodriguez feature prominently for top European sides such as Porto, Monaco & Real Madrid. Rodriguez’s best form arguably came with Real in the 2014-15 season scoring 17 times in 46 games. It was at the 2014 World Cup where Rodriguez also shone guiding Colombia to their first ever quarter final and where he won the tournament’s Golden Boot. This was perhaps a shining moment in a career that has also seen Rodriguez named La Liga Best Midfielder, Portuguese Golden Ball Winner and a UEFA Team of the Year nomination. It’s a glittering snapshot of a modern playmaking legend.
FW: Faustino Asprilla
For many, Faustino Asprilla was a player with two halves. Whilst reckless off the pitch, he was unstoppable on it. Known for being a juggernaut who could strike at any moment, Asprilla shone for sides throughout Europe in the 1990s. He brought his goalscoring flair and trademark flip celebration to the likes of Newcastle in England and Parma in Italy. His best form arguably came with Parma where he scored 16 times in the 1993/94 season helping them win the 1993 UEFA Super Cup. He also won two UEFA Cups with Parma and the 1999 Serie A to complete an impressive trophy haul. It showcased everything worthy about his playing skills even if his personal live was always living on the edge.
FW: Juan Pablo Angel
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Juan Pablo Angel was never a star at a major club. However, that didn’t stop him from being a potent striker. He proved this by slamming goals wherever he went. This included an excellent rise with River Plate in Argentina before leading the line for Premier League side Aston Villa. He added to this by destroying teams in the MLS leaving a worldwide trail of destruction. During his time in the Premier League, Angel had moments where he looked world-class including a 16-goal season in the 2003/04 campaign. He added to these impressive totals in the MLS with the New York Red Bull scoring 20 goals in 2017 games during the 2007 MLS Season. It was why Angel was awarded 3 MLS Player of the Month Awards and also named in the 2007 MLS Best XI. After retiring in 2014, Angel had been successful in three continents and earned plaudits from fans worldwide.
FW: Radamel Falcao
It’s hard to argue that few Colombian strikers have been as deadly as what Radamel Falcao has. A true finisher, Falcao could score from almost anywhere on the pitch and create opportunities when nothing looked feasible. Not only could he score in almost any situation, he had the pace and strength to hold off strikers and find space when it didn’t look possible. It was why he was a goalscoring machine for various top sides such as Porto, Monaco and Atletico Madrid. It was in Spain with Atletico where Falcao hit his best form scoring 52 goals in just 68 games over two seasons. It was this form that saw him named in the 2012 FifPro World 11 and named Globe’s Best Footballer in 2012. These personal accolades also came with various league titles such as the 2011 Primeira Liga title with Porto and the 2017 Ligue 1 title with Monaco. Furthermore, Falcao has been a regular goal source for the Colombian national side scoring 35 times in 102 caps. This makes Falcao the record goalscorer for the Colombian national team and further proof of being one of Colombia’s greatest stars of all time
