James David Rodríguez Rubio (born 12 July 1991), known as James Rodríguez , is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Colombia national team as an attacking midfielder or winger. James is commonly ranked as one of the best young players in the world. He is praised for his technique, vision and playmaking skills, and often referred as the successor to his compatriot Carlos Valderrama.