Colombia 2014
Colombia at Brazil 2014 played the most joyful football of the tournament. James Rodríguez, just 22, became a global star overnight his volley against Uruguay in the round of 16, struck on the turn from outside the box, won the Puskás Award as the year's best goal and is considered one of the finest ever scored at a World Cup. James finished as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals and won the Golden Boot. Juan Cuadrado provided electric wing play, and the team's dancing celebrations became an iconic image. Colombia won every group match, swept past Uruguay 2-0 in the the last 16, but fell to hosts Brazil 2-1 in a physical quarter-final the match in which Neymar suffered a fractured vertebra. Colombia returned home to rapturous celebrations in Bogotá. For a nation still healing from the tragedy of 1994, this campaign was a redemption football as pure joy once more.