MEXICO CITY — The final rays of a setting sun painted the rapidly darkening sky above the Estadio Azteca, poetically resisting their unavoidable destiny of making way for the moon, the stars and a new chapter. As they did, James Rodríguez led Colombia out to warm up before the start of his last dance at a tournament that will forever define him.
Wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in his third career World Cup, he couldn’t hold back tears as the thousands of Colombian supporters who had invaded the Azteca belted out a powerful rendition of the national anthem. For a moment, it made you question whether you were actually in Mexico City or at the Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla.
