Top 10 best Colombian football players of all time

Colombia might not be one of the most successful countries in the world when it comes to trophies in football, but their passion towards the beautiful game is very widely known. Here we look at the 10 best players to ever have represented the country. The likes of Jhon Duran and Luis Diaz are doing well but are still yet to reach this level.

Player	International Caps
David Ospina	128
Mario Yepes	102
Juan Cuadrado	116
Freddy Rincon	84
Faustino Asprilla	57
Ivan Cordoba	73
Rene Higuita	68
Radamel Falcao	105
Carlos Valderrama	111
James Rodriguez	110

10. David Ospina

The first goalkeeper on this list, David Ospina was born in Medellin. He began his career at Atlético Nacional before moving to Nice in France. He furthered his career with Arsenal in the Premier League and Napoli in Serie A. Ospina has represented Colombia at international level an insane 128 times participating in multiple FIFA World Cups. He is widely considered among the best keepers from South America in this century.

9. Mario Yepes

Mario Yepes was a stalwart Colombian centre back who played famously for clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, River Plate and AC Milan. Known for his strength, leadership, and defensive Accumulating over a century of appearances for his nation, Yepes’ legacy is rooted in his leadership for Colombia. As captain, he embodied the nation’s fighting spirit, guiding them to their most memorable moments on the world stage, including the World Cup and the Copa America.

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8. Juan Cuadrado

Like a few others on this list, Juan Cuadrado is another big name Colombian player who made his name mostly in the Serie A. Cuadrado began his career at the local club, Atlético Nacional, before moving to Udinese in Italy in 2009. Although he had a stint at Chelsea too, the winger turned fullback is most remembered for his Juventus days, where he won multiple league and cup titles, even serving as captain.

7. Freddy Rincon

Freddy Rincon was a legendary Colombian defensive midfielder. Rincon was a key figure in the Colombian national team during the 1990s. He represented Colombia at three FIFA World Cups in the 1990s. Rincon played for prominent clubs like América de Cali, Real Madrid, Napoli, and Corinthians, winning numerous accolades. His most memorable achievement is the goal he scored against West Germany during the 1990 World Cup to keep Colombia in the tournament.

6. Faustino Asprilla

A Colombian legend, Faustino Asprilla was renowned for his incredible skills and unpredictable playing style. Known as “El Tino,” he was capable of producing moments of magic on the pitch. His most memorable performances came for Colombia’s national team, where he was a key figure in their qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Asprilla’s career is often seen as one of the what-ifs in Colombian football but the mark he left, especially on Newcastle United, will always be remembered by the fans.

5. Ivan Cordoba

Ivan Cordoba was a Colombian defensive stalwart who is best known for his instrumental role in his nation’s 2001 Copa America victory. His goal in the final against Mexico secured the title for his nation. Beyond his international success, Cordoba also excelled in his long stint at Inter Milan, winning multiple Serie A titles and a Champions League. His contributions solidified his status as a Colombian football legend.

4. Rene Higuita

Rene Higuita was Colombian goalkeeper renowned for his flamboyant style and daring saves and colourful personality. He is best remembered for his acrobatic skills, including the famous ‘Scorpion Kick’. Higuita’s fearless approach to the game often saw him venture out of his box in a sweeper keeper role. He is also ranked as one of the 10 highest-scoring goalkeepers in history, with 41 goals overall. Higuita’s off field controversies also contributed to his larger than life persona.

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3. Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao is widely considered as one of the most deadly strikers of this century. He first made his name at River Plate after which he came to Europe and had fantastic spells at Porto, Monaco and Atletico Madrid. He also had short tenures at Manchester United and Chelsea which were unsuccessful. Falcao also happens to be the top scorer of all time for the Colombian national team.

2. Carlos Valderrama

Carlos Valderrama, often referred to as ‘El Pibe Valderrama’ (The Kid Valderrama), was a legendary Colombian footballer renowned for his exceptional skills and flamboyant style. With his iconic golden hair and infectious smile, he became an international icon. Valderrama’s creativity, vision, and passing ability were renowned amongst the best in the world. He played a pivotal role in Colombia’s golden generation of the 1990s, leading them to their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 12 years. His contributions to Colombian football solidified his status as one of the greatest players in the South American football.

1. James Rodriguez

James Rodríguez is a Colombian icon, known for his exceptional passing ability, vision, and technique. Rodríguez rose to prominence during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot award for his six goals and two assists. He has played for several top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton to mixed success. He was also adjudged Player of the Tournament in Copa America 2024.

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