BOGOTA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Colombians Monday celebrated the selection of a goal by national footballer James Rodriguez as the best of the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
World football body FIFA announced Monday on its website that the player's goal against Uruguay was "voted as the Goal of the Tournament by over four million FIFA.com users."
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was the first to congratulate Rodriguez and the rest of the team.
"Out national team gives us one more reason to be happy. The first goal at (Rio de Janeiro's) Maracana (Stadium) by James Rodriguez is the best of the 2014 World Cup. Congratulations!" Santos posted on Twitter.
Rodriguez had earlier won FIFA's Golden Boot for scoring the most goals of the tournament (6).
The second-best goal of the cup was scored by Holland's Robin van Persie, a header at Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casille in a match that the Dutch won 5-1.
The third-best goal was again Rodriguez's, in Colombia's match against Japan.
The Monaco midfielder, who may be announced as early as Tuesday as the newly signed player to join Real Madrid, according to Spanish media sources, took to the social networks to thank all those who had voted for him.
"Thanks to those who voted for the best goal of the World Cup. It was a nice goal. A nice moment to cherish always," the footballer wrote via Twitter.
Rodriguez's performance at the World Cup has turned him into one of the world's most valued players, with Real Madrid reportedly to be paying more than 80 million U.S. dollars to get him on their team.
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