Position
Forward
Biography of Luis Diaz
Luis Díaz was born in Barrancas, La Guajira, a humble town in northern Colombia. He belongs to the Wayúu ethnic group and was discovered by Colombian star Carlos Alberto Valderrama while competing in an indigenous communities tournament.
As a teenager, he played for Barranquilla FC, where he took his first steps on the field. His high level of play earned him consistent call-ups as a sparring partner for the Colombian national team. Díaz showcased his talent at Junior, Porto, and Liverpool until he established himself as a global star.
Luis Díaz family
Luis Díaz’s family consists of his wife, Geraldine Ponce, and their two daughters, Roma and Charlotte Díaz. The Liverpool forward’s parents are Luis Manuel (Mané), who worked as an amateur football coach, and Cilenis Marulanda. Díaz has two younger brothers: Roger and Jesús Manuel.
Luis Díaz’s Quick Facts
Luis Díaz is a Colombian professional soccer player born on January 13, 1997.
- Full Name: Luis Fernando Díaz Marulanda
- Birth place: Barrancas, La Guajira, Colombia
- Date of birth: January 13, 1997
- Nationality: Colombian
- Parents: Luis Manuel and Cilenis
- Siblings: Roger and Jesús Manuel
- Wife: Geraldine Ponce
- Daughters: Roma and Charlotte
- Proffesional debut: July 6, 2017
- Career titles: 13
- Club: Liverpool
- Foot: Right
- Social media: @LuisFDiaz19 (Twitter), luisdiaz19_ (Instagram)
Luis Diaz’s Career
The beginnings of Luis Díaz in football were at Barranquilla FC in 2016, playing in the second division of Colombia. His good performances earned him a call-up to the U-20 national team of his country, and then he moved to Junior de Barranquilla, in the first division.
Luis Díaz at Junior de Barranquilla
Díaz debuted for Junior on July 6, 2017, in a 1-0 victory against Once Caldas in the round of 16 of the Copa Colombia, a tournament that the Tiburón ended up winning. At the Barranquilla team, he won four titles in three seasons and also reached the final of the 2018 Copa Sudamericana. At 21 years old, his career took off towards European football.
Luis Díaz at Porto
Díaz arrived at Porto in July 2019 and signed a five-season contract. His first goal for the Portuguese team came on August 13 against Krasnodar in the preliminary round of the UEFA Champions League. With the Dragoes, he played for three seasons and won five titles, earning a place in international stardom and standing out in European football, which led the Guajiro to pack his bags and move to the English Premier League.
Luis Díaz at Liverpool
The 2021/22 season was a major breakthrough for Díaz. In 2021, he had already finished as the best player of the year in Portugal, was in the Copa America Best XI, and was nominated for the Puskas Award for the best goal of the season. For these reasons, Liverpool bought him for 60 million euros, placing him among the four most expensive Colombians in history. He currently continues to play for the Reds, where he has accumulated four titles.
Luis Díaz: The Star of the Colombian National Team
Luis Díaz debuted for the Colombian national team on August 28, 2018, in a friendly match against Argentina. He quickly accumulated minutes and became a key player for the team. With Colombia, he played in the 2022 World Cup and the Copa América tournaments in 2019, 2021, and 2024. He has scored 14 goals in 63 appearances for the Colombian national team.
Luis Díaz’s Individual Achievements
Awards in the Colombian League
– Best Player of the Torneo Apertura 2018:
Díaz was recognized as the best player of the Torneo Apertura of the Liga Águila in 2018 while playing for Junior de Barranquilla.
Recognitions with Junior de Barranquilla
– Top Scorer of the Colombian Liga Águila: Díaz was the top scorer for his team on several occasions, especially highlighting his ability to score crucial goals.
Awards with Porto
– Primeira Liga Player of the Month: Díaz was named Player of the Month with FC Porto in November, 2021.
– Porto Player of the Season: He was recognized as the best player for Porto in the 2020-2021 season.
Awards with Liverpool
– Player of the month: Díaz has been named Player of the Month in Liverpool on April, 2024.
International Distinctions
– Copa América 2021 Best XI: Díaz was included in the best XI of the Copa América 2021.
– Top Scorer of the Copa América 2021: He shared the title of top scorer of the tournament with Lionel Messi, both scoring 4 goals.
– Nominated as the Best Player of the Year 2022: Luis Díaz has also been nominated for the Best Player of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards.
Awards and Recognitions in Colombia
– Colombian Footballer of the Year: Díaz has been nominated and has won the award for the best Colombian footballer of the year several times, in recognition of his performances both at club and national team levels.
– Man of the Match in the 2024 Copa América: Luis Díaz was named Man of the Match in the game against Costa Rica during the 2024 Copa América.
Kidnapping of Luis Díaz’s Parents in 2023
On October 29, 2023, Luis Díaz’s parents were kidnapped by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, Colombia. His mother was rescued by the police a day later, and a search was announced to locate his father, which included a reward of up to 200 million pesos.
Days later, it was reported that “Mané” was being held captive by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN). After 13 days, on November 9, he was released in the mountainous area in the northeast of Cesar, where an operation provided him with security. Hours later, Manuel and Luis were reunited and spent three months together in England.
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