Veteran Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez is at the center of swirling health rumors that have been firmly rejected by his current club, Major League Soccer side Minnesota United. The 34-year-old, who boasts a decorated career spanning European giants Real Madrid, English Premier League outfit Everton and his national side Colombia, was recently hospitalized after falling ill during an international fixture, sparking widespread concern across the global football community.
Rodriguez first displayed visible symptoms of illness during Colombia’s 2025 March 29 international friendly against France, a match that ended in a 3-1 defeat for the South American side. Immediately after the match, the midfielder was admitted to hospital for three days to receive treatment for severe dehydration. He finally made his return to Minnesota United’s training complex on Monday to begin a gradual return to football activity.
Following his hospitalization, the Colombian Football Federation released an official statement on April 2 confirming that Rodriguez was being monitored for an underlying medical condition unrelated to his football career, while adding that his medical outlook remained favorable. Despite this reassuring update, unsubstantiated rumors began circulating widely across social media platforms, and were picked up by some United States media outlets, claiming the midfielder was suffering from rhabdomyolysis – a rare and potentially fatal muscle-wasting disorder.
Rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can be triggered by extreme overexertion, causes muscle tissue to break down and release toxic fibers into the bloodstream, which can in turn cause permanent kidney damage or even death if left untreated. However, Minnesota United has pushed back firmly against these claims in an official statement issued by the club.
“The club and our medical professionals can unequivocally state there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis,” the MLS side said. Since his return to the training ground on Monday, Rodriguez has completed a supervised low-intensity return-to-activity session, and his progression back to full group training will be managed step-by-step by the club’s specialist medical team to protect his long-term health.
A seasoned international, Rodriguez made his Colombia debut back in 2011, and has gone on to earn 124 senior caps for his country to date. Since joining Minnesota United in February 2025, he has made two appearances in MLS competition as he settles into his new role in the North American league.