07.06.2026 07:20
The claim that Colombia national team captain James Rodriguez turned down a photo request from President Gustavo Petro's daughter, Antonella Petro, sparked controversy in the country. Following the backlash, Antonella showed support for the star footballer, while Rodriguez promised to take a photo with her and give her his jersey.
The farewell ceremony organized for the Colombian National Team before the World Cup unexpectedly turned into a debate. The event, held at El Dorado International Airport in the capital Bogota, was attended by President Gustavo Petro and his daughter Antonella Petro.
During the ceremony, President Petro and his daughter presented various gifts to the national team players. However, in images circulating on social media, it was claimed that Antonella Petro wanted to take a photo with team captain James Rodriguez, but Rodriguez did not respond to this request.
THE DEBATE GROWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
After the images spread, football fans in Colombia were divided. Some users argued that Rodriguez ignored the young girl's request and criticized the star footballer, while others claimed that the images were misinterpreted and taken out of context. The debate quickly became a topic of national agenda.
AN EMOTIONAL MESSAGE FROM ANTONELLA
The president's 17-year-old daughter, Antonella Petro, pushed back against the criticism of James Rodriguez in a video message she released.
Stating that Rodriguez has been her idol since childhood, Antonella recalled his unforgettable goal against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup and said: "The first goal I ever celebrated in my life was yours, James. I wrote you many letters as a child. We must support our national team in unity. I hope one day my dream of taking a photo with you comes true."
JAMES RODRIGUEZ'S RESPONSE CAME QUICKLY
Following the reactions, James Rodriguez also made a statement by tagging Antonella Petro on his social media account. The star footballer said, "Antonella, that photo will be taken soon. And my jersey is dedicated to you. Thank you so much for your support to me and all my teammates. Now it's time to unite for our national team in the World Cup." Rodriguez's post quickly attracted great attention.
PRESIDENT PETRO THANKS HIM
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also thanked James Rodriguez in a post on his social media account. Thus, the photo crisis that had been debated for days was resolved amicably with the mutually positive messages from the parties.