James Rodríguez has faced many opponents throughout his professional career, but none quite like this one. The Spanish tax authorities accused the Colombian player of tax evasion while he was playing for Real Madrid in 2014. However, the current Minnesota United FC star has emerged victorious in this case.
According to the newspaper El Mundo, the Administrative Chamber of the National Court ruled in favor of the former player and ordered the tax authorities to refund him a sum exceeding three million euros.
Rodríguez making a fortune without even having to play
The case dates back to his time at Real Madrid, where he had a standout career between 2014 and 2020, recording 37 goals and 42 assists in 125 matches and winning a total of nine titles, including two Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles.
However, during that period, the player was sanctioned for alleged tax irregularities in the year he signed with Real Madrid, coming from AS Monaco, where the dispute centered on his tax residency for that fiscal year.
While the Tax Agency maintained that the soccer player was a resident of Spain, the player argued that he spent "more than 183 days” in the Principality of Monaco, providing a certificate from the Monegasque authorities stating that he resided there from July 1, 2013, to July 21, 2014. Furthermore, he asserted that he had no economic or personal ties to Spain prior to signing with Real Madrid.
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The Tax Agency rejected these arguments and determined that the player's center of economic activity was in Spain, comparing the 2.2 million euros he received from Monaco through July with the 4.3 million received from Real Madrid, to which it added 11 million in image rights fees.
However, following a legal proceeding, the National Court concluded that the soccer player successfully proved his residence in Monaco and upheld the defense’s arguments, declaring him innocent and ordering the government agency to refund the money.
This ruling represents a major setback for the Tax Agency and a significant legal victory for the 34-year-old player, who currently continues his career with Minnesota United in the MLS and with the Colombian national team, with whom he aims to be in peak condition to lead the squad heading into the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Colombia is in Group K alongside Portugal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uzbekistan. The latter will be their opponents in their opening match on June 18 at Estadio Banorte in Monterrey, Mexico. On the 23rd, they will face the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and on the 28th, Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
