[Saba Sports News] Colombia’s journey at the 2026 World Cup ended with far more turmoil than achievements. Though the squad maintained outward unity across their five tournament matches, a string of internal troubles, disputes and scandals surfaced once the team returned to Bogotá. One major incident involved a rift between Richard Ríos and team captain James Rodríguez, who turned in an underwhelming performance throughout the competition. The side relied on other players to cover James’ groundwork and defensive responsibilities, and Ríos had long grown weary of shouldering this burden. Their disagreements flared up on multiple occasions, visible to audiences worldwide on television, with Ríos openly snubbing and distancing himself from James. The friction between the two midfielders split the squad down the middle. At the core of Ríos’ grievances lies the gradual breakdown of team discipline stemming from the coach ceding excessive control of the national team to a single player.
The editor believes that Ríos’ so-called “mistake” was standing up to James Rodríguez. He refused to take on defensive duties that ought to have fallen to the captain himself, yet this move effectively dug his own grave.