James Rodríguez sends message to Petro's daughter after photo controversy

Colombian football captain James Rodríguez has addressed a controversy surrounding a perceived snub of President Gustavo Petro's daughter, Antonella, at a send-off event for the national team before the World Cup.

Antonella Petro, 17, shared a video expressing her disappointment at not getting a photo with Rodríguez, whom she has admired since childhood. She recalled her first-ever goal celebration as a child was for one of his goals in the 2014 World Cup.

Rodríguez responded via a message shared by Antonella, promising her a signed jersey and apologizing for not hearing her request during the busy event. "Antonella, that photo is coming. You also have my jersey, tell me where to send it?" he wrote. He added, "Thanks for your encouragement to me and all my teammates, everything has its time and now is the time to be united for our selection in the World Cup... See you soon."

The incident occurred during a presidential event bidding farewell to the Colombian delegation. Social media footage showed Antonella approaching Rodríguez, who continued greeting others. This led to criticism from some users who felt the young woman was ignored.

The Colombian Football Federation issued a statement supporting the players and condemning any form of aggression or criticism against them, urging continued support for the team's World Cup campaign.