THE COLOMBIAN HAS BEEN LOYAL TO ADIDAS THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER, FROM HIS EARLY YEARS AT ENVIGADO AND BANFIELD, UP TO THE MOTHER OF ALL LEFT FOOTED VOLLEYS IN BRAZIL. WE'RE TAKING A LOOK BACK AT WHERE THE THREE STRIPED ADVENTURE BEGAN FOR THE NEW GALÁCTICO.
Having already changed hands for €45 million when he signed for Monaco last year, it's surprising that James Rodríguez hasn't featured more prominently in adidas' campaign plans already. Throw a World Cup Golden Boot and a £63 million move to Real Madrid into the equation and you can expect to start seeing a bit more of him from now on.
Colombia U17 | adidas Predator Absolute (2007)
Rodríguez first started to make a name for himself as a teenager playing for the Colombia U17 national side. The year 2007 was a pre-F50 era and saw the young prospect lace up in the Predator Absolute, a boot worn at the time by the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack and David Beckham.
Banfield | adidas Predator Powerswerve (2010)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Predator boots of the modern era, Rodríguez switched into the Predator Powerswerve after a move from Colombia to Argentina's Banfield. After scoring one of his now trademark long range strikes to clinch Banfield their first ever league title, Rodríguez had attracted the attention of Europe's elite and Porto came knocking.
Banfield | adidas Predator X (2010)
James saw out his final few games in Argentina wearing the adidas Predator X, the first Pred without a tongue and the final Predator worn by Rodríguez before he moved out of his teens and into the F50 silo.
Porto | adidas F50 adizero (2011)
Rodríguez's move to Portugal coincided with the launch of the adidas adizero F50 aimed at offering players an all round lighter feel. The first generation F50 tempted Porto's new €5 million man out of the Predator and he hasn't looked back since.
Colombia U20 | adidas F50 adizero Prime (2011)
The second generation F50 dropped in a colourway perfectly suited to Colombia's home colours and James slipped straight into a pair for the 2011 U20 World Cup, after making his senior international debut against Bolivia.
Porto | adidas F50 adizero miCoach (2012)
The 2011-12 season saw Rodríguez hit the back of the net 14 times as well as bagging 11 assists wearing the third incarnation of the adizero and the first to feature a miCoach cavity cell. He also picked up the Golden Ball as the league's player of the season.
Monaco | adidas F50 adizero (2013)
Mega-rich Monaco caught drift of Rodríguez's talent and splashed out €45 million to secure his services from Porto yet he remained a relatively low-key adidas athlete in comparison to other household names. Playing just 34 times for Monaco Rodríguez then packed his bags for Brazil not knowing that he wouldn't be returning to France.
Colombia | adidas F50 adizero Battle Pack (2014)
James emerged as the breakthrough player at the 2014 World Cup. His playmaking ability, eye for goal and passion for the game made him one of the most prizeable assets both on and off the pitch and only in the the latter stages of the tournament did adidas start flaunting their player. Oh and he signed for Real Madrid for £63 million, no biggy. Expect him wrapped up in Three Stripes where ever he goes from now on.
Real Madrid | adidas F50 adizero (2014)James was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu earlier this week after he penned a six-year-deal with the Champions League holders. Rodríguez greeted fans on the hallowed turf wearing the new Tribal Pack F50 adizero, a boot in which he'll wear to kick off the season, the next stage of his career and a new, much busier chapter of his partnership with adidas.
Colombia U17 | adidas Predator Absolute (2007)
Rodríguez first started to make a name for himself as a teenager playing for the Colombia U17 national side. The year 2007 was a pre-F50 era and saw the young prospect lace up in the Predator Absolute, a boot worn at the time by the likes of Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack and David Beckham.
Banfield | adidas Predator Powerswerve (2010)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest Predator boots of the modern era, Rodríguez switched into the Predator Powerswerve after a move from Colombia to Argentina's Banfield. After scoring one of his now trademark long range strikes to clinch Banfield their first ever league title, Rodríguez had attracted the attention of Europe's elite and Porto came knocking.
Banfield | adidas Predator X (2010)
James saw out his final few games in Argentina wearing the adidas Predator X, the first Pred without a tongue and the final Predator worn by Rodríguez before he moved out of his teens and into the F50 silo.
Porto | adidas F50 adizero (2011)
Rodríguez's move to Portugal coincided with the launch of the adidas adizero F50 aimed at offering players an all round lighter feel. The first generation F50 tempted Porto's new €5 million man out of the Predator and he hasn't looked back since.
Colombia U20 | adidas F50 adizero Prime (2011)
The second generation F50 dropped in a colourway perfectly suited to Colombia's home colours and James slipped straight into a pair for the 2011 U20 World Cup, after making his senior international debut against Bolivia.
Porto | adidas F50 adizero miCoach (2012)
The 2011-12 season saw Rodríguez hit the back of the net 14 times as well as bagging 11 assists wearing the third incarnation of the adizero and the first to feature a miCoach cavity cell. He also picked up the Golden Ball as the league's player of the season.
Monaco | adidas F50 adizero (2013)
Mega-rich Monaco caught drift of Rodríguez's talent and splashed out €45 million to secure his services from Porto yet he remained a relatively low-key adidas athlete in comparison to other household names. Playing just 34 times for Monaco Rodríguez then packed his bags for Brazil not knowing that he wouldn't be returning to France.
Colombia | adidas F50 adizero Battle Pack (2014)
James emerged as the breakthrough player at the 2014 World Cup. His playmaking ability, eye for goal and passion for the game made him one of the most prizeable assets both on and off the pitch and only in the the latter stages of the tournament did adidas start flaunting their player. Oh and he signed for Real Madrid for £63 million, no biggy. Expect him wrapped up in Three Stripes where ever he goes from now on.
Real Madrid | adidas F50 adizero (2014)James was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu earlier this week after he penned a six-year-deal with the Champions League holders. Rodríguez greeted fans on the hallowed turf wearing the new Tribal Pack F50 adizero, a boot in which he'll wear to kick off the season, the next stage of his career and a new, much busier chapter of his partnership with adidas.
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