AEven if it seems strange or in a hurry , at the end of October Lists and nominations of the best 2024 in the world of football and there are news with players from Colombia. At least, by the standards of the International Federation of football history and statistics, James Rodriguez, Linda Caicedo, Mayra Ramirez and Daniela Arias are among the best of the year.
It is clear that this Provide for comments and positions , from criticism , as it is considered that some of them will not have advantages or arguments for inclusion in these lists And they can keep a prize that evaluates the best of the whole year in clubs and selections. But others consider it so, with few matches or without due opportunities, The highlight is that Colombian players are in these selected groups.
James is among the top 30 players of 2024, despite not playing for his clubs
The reason for the great surprise of a sector of fans, Colombians and foreigners, is that James Rodriguez is in The list published by the federation with 30 selected players To win the 2024 World Player of the Year award. And it is that the Colombian accompanies the players who excelled in the selection and the club Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Rhodri, Lamin Yamal , Nico Williams, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal , Vinicius Junior , Federico Valverde , Rodrigo, Lautaro Martinez, Among others.
It would seem that for this list, Rodriguez’s few matches and few minutes with his clubs in the year did not weigh: 8 with Su Paulo (less than 300 minutes) barely adding a goal and a pass , and 5 with Rayo Vallecano (under 130 minutes) with no goals or assists to score. But much more weight and importance was given to what the left-hander achieved for the Colombian national team in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and at the 2024 Copa America.
Well, apart from being one step away from qualifying for the World Cup with ‘La Sao Paulo’ and having been runner-up on the American continent, behind Argentina, James contributed with 2 goals (1 in the knockout and 1 in the America’s Cup), as well as putting in 8 assists for the goals of his teammates in the 2 competitions in question. In addition, with the team of Nestor Lorenzo, flyer’s best form was seen, he played 14 matches in 2024, adding friendly matches and exceeding 1000 minutes on the field.
Despite the It seems difficult that he managed to keep the award for the best of the year, being above Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other still active personalities, He is already the credit and recognition of the captain of the national team of Colombia.
Linda Caicedo, Mayra Ramirez and Daniela Arias represent Colombia in the best of 2024
In addition, FIFA itself has put together two more lists with an appreciation of World Women’s football and there is also a representation of Colombia. At the beginning, Linda Caicedo was included in the selection of the best young players of the year. This list has as its main requirement to have been born after 1 January 2004 and there are 30 players who meet this requirement as follows Aline Gomez, Priscilla, Olivia Smith, Allie centenor, Vicky leibes , Mara Alper, Femke lifting, Momoko Tanikawa, Julia Dragoni, Among others.
And this cannot be avoided Linda was a great champion in Real Madrid Femenino with more than 20 matches between Superliga Femenina d’espa, Supercopa Femenina and Copa de la Reina, As well as 4 matches played so far in the UEFA Women’s Champions League during 2024. In these matches, he managed to score 9 goals and was confirmed as a regular starter for the Merengue team.
But what many evaluate Caicedo is what he did with it The different categories of the women’s national team of Colombia, She was also in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, in the Football Tournament of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and in the FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup played in Colombia. Despite the imbalance and the talent she shows, the expected contribution of the talented 19-year-old was not.
In the record with the ‘tricolor’ they were 13 matches in all competitions, with a balance of 4 goals and assists. The reason that criticism has come for the youth repertoire and the future of women’s football in the country.
And on the list of the best players of the year 2024 in the senior category, Mayra Ramirez and Daniela Arias are the nominees, 2 of the most ordinary Colombian women’s senior national teams that with their clubs have been very impressive.
In the case of Myra, started the year at Levante in Spain and then moved to Chelsea in England, Very successfully because he scored 12 goals for clubs and in assists he was also important with 5 contributions for his teammates. However, she barely managed to contribute a goal for the Colombian national team in the year and at the Olympics she drifted away due to her intensity and was left with an exposed red card.
By Daniela Arias it is necessary to evaluate his regularity in defense and what he brings to Selection of Colombia in friendly matches, Gold Cup and Olympic Games, Adding 8 games played and always as a starter. In addition to Deployment with Corinthians Brazil in the domestic league and in obtaining the Copa Libertadores Femenina 2024 V. Independiente Santa Fe Colombia.
But both Mayra Ramirez and Daniela Arias will have a very strong competition in the goal of winning the 2024 FIFA World Player of the Year award because they are competing with Tabitha chawenga, Trinity Rodman , Lindsay Horan, Mary Fowler , Aitana buonmati , Manuela Giugliano , Mariona caldente , Caroline Graham Hansen , Salma paraluelo , Julia Gwynn , Alexa botelas, Among others.
