Image credit: Marca
Luis Diaz Profile
| Player’s Name | Luis Fernando Diaz Marulanda |
| Country | Colombia |
| Current Club | Liverpool |
| Former Club | FC Porto |
| Shirt Number | 23 |
| Position of Play | Left-winger |
| Other Position | Left midfield |
| Market Value | 40 million euros |
| Height | 180m |
| Age | 25 years old |
| Place of Birth | Barrancas, Colombia |
| Date of Birth | January 13, 1997 |
| Agent | Nomi Sports |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Signed | Jan 30, 2022 |
| Contract | June 30 2027 |
| Outfitter | None |
Professional Career
Early Life
Luis Diaz is a left-winger playing his club football for Premier League Club Liverpool and the Colombia national team. Diaz was born at Barrancas in Colombia on January 13, 1997. He began his football career at Barranquilla Fc in 2016 and after a year he moved to Junior Fc before he moved to Fc Porto.
Atletico Junior
Growing up at Barrancas a poverty-ridden region of Colombia, Diaz was unlucky to be one among the many children that suffered from malnutrition. Even with this condition, he never lost hope but remained focused on his dream of becoming a professional footballer,
What followed was trials to recruit players to join Atletico Junior. To his surprise, he was selected after impressing in the trials. Being underweight, he was subjected to a diet in an effort to have his weight increase. This plan yielded and in a short while he was ready to debut.
On April 26, 2016, in a Categoria Primera B crass with Deportivo Pereira, he was given an opportunity to showcase his talent coming on a substitute in the second half as they lost by 2-1. In the next month, he opened his goal-scoring account netting against Cucuta Deportivo at home.
As he continued to impress, he got promoted to the main squad and featured in the Categoria Primera A. He finally became a regular for the club in 2018 and scored a total of 16 goals across the season.
FC Porto
Before joining Porto, Zenit Saint Petersburg had approached Atletico Junior to try and sign him but the deal did not materialize. This was majorly by the role played by fellow national team players like Falcao and Rodriguez who convinced him to choose Porto.
He made his first appearance for the club in the Champions League qualifiers against Krasnodar and in the Primera Liga, he debuted in a 2-1 win over Gil Vicente. His first goal was in a 4-0 win at home over Vitoria De Guimaraes. He scored 14 goals in his debut season across all competitions as his club won both the League and Taca de Portugal.
In his last season at Porto, he had an impressive goal-scoring record netting five in his first six games. In his many goals, he won the Goal of the Month award and his performance earned him two consecutive awards as Forward of the Month before leaving to join Premier League Club Liverpool.
Liverpool.
On the last day of the January 2022 transfer window, Liverpool signed Diaz from Porto for 45 million euros with an add-ons amount of 15 million euros. It was the club’s coach Jürgen Klopp who pushed the club to sign him.
This followed interest for his signature by rivals Tottenham Hotspurs who first sought for his service before Liverpool hijacking and signing him on a permanent deal with a five-year contract deal.
This additional strengthened the Liverpool striking option as he was good with the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah. Diaz then made his debut for the club in the FA Cup 4th round replacing Curtis Jones. He provided an assist as they beat Cardiff City 3-1. His first goal for the club was against Norwich City on February 19, 2022.
Colombia
Diaz joined the Colombia senior team on August 27, 2018, as they prepared international friendlies with Venezuela and Argentina. He was previously part of the under 20 team that participated in the under 20 South American Championship.
He played his first game for his country in a goalless draw with Argentina on September 11, 2018. His first goal to his nation was scored against South Korea on March 26, 2019 in a game they lost 2-1 in an International friendly.
During the 2021 Copa America, he was the top scorer of the tournament and helped his team to finish at position three after beating Peru 3-2 in the third-place playoffs after they lost in the semis to Argentina who eventually became the champions.
Diaz Market value and Net worth
The left winger’s value has risen over time; an analysis of his current value reveals that Diaz has a market value of 40 million euros. Tracking back to his early days, he had a market value of 75,000 euros as of January 31, 2017, when he was 20 years old playing for Barranquilla Fc. Diaz has an estimated net worth of 3.5 million euros. The main source of his worth is his successful football career where he gets his earnings.
Luis Diaz Family and relationship
when finding out about his family, the names of his parents are Silenis Marulanda as the mother and Luis Manuel Diaz as his father they originate from Barrancas, La Guajira in Colombia. He is the firstborn in a family of three with three brothers and no sister. However, the gap of lack of a girl in the family is bridged by his girlfriend Gera Ponce with whom they have a child together.
Diaz ranking.
Globally, Diaz ranks at 118 among all players in the world. In his country Colombia, Diaz is number 1. Looking at how he sits at the club level and the Premier League, he settles for position 9 at AC Liverpool and position 49 in Premier League respectively.
At the left-wing, which is his main position of play, he ranks at number 13. A quick look at his age mates that are players born in 1997, Diaz stands at position 17. This ranking is however subject to change from time to time.
FIFA 22 rating.
Diaz has an overall rating of 83 with the potential of 86. He has a rating of four in skill moves and four for the weak foot. His international reputation rating is one with work rate as high/medium. Some of the players that he compares with include Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Vinicius Jr, Federico Chiesa, Marcus Rashford, and Iago Aspas among many others.
Transfer history.
When the transfer windows open, clubs get the chance to scout and sign players they feel will bring an impact on the strength of the squad. Diaz has been one of the many players that have had interclub transfers.
His transfer history dates back to July 1, 2016, when his first transfer happened as he joined Barranquilla Fc on a free transfer from its under 20 team. At Barranquilla, Diaz spent a year before joining Junior Fc. On July 10, 2019, Fc Porto signed him for 2m euros.
The inform Diaz caught the eye of Liverpool who came running to acquire his service. Upon tendering their bid, Porto accepted to let go of their winger for a fee estimated to be 40 million euros on January 30, 2022.
Position and style of play
The Colombian is well known as a left-winger which forms the main position of play. He can however be pivotal at the left midfield as his other position of play. He has speed and likes to accelerate bringing a great treat to opposition especially when counter-attacking.
His greatest strength is the ability to use both of his feet. This allows him to switch positions from right to left-wing and even break into the center to assist his team in scoring goals. He is a great scorer as evidenced in his time at Porto where he was the Top Scorer. Naturally, he is a great dribbler and an impressive shooter.
Salary and contract
When he joined Premier League Club Liverpool on January 30, 2022, Luis Diaz had personal terms agreement with the club that saw him pen down a five-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2027. Diaz pockets a salary of 60,000 pounds a week at the club.
Diaz debuts
- His first appearance for Liverpool was in the FA Cup when he came on as a substitute for Curtis Jones as Liverpool won the game by 3-1 over Cardiff City on February 6, 2022.
- At Porto, he debuted in a 1-0 win over Krasnodar on August 7, 2019 in the Champions League qualifiers.
- Diaz played his first game for Atletico Junior on April 26, 2016 against Categoria in a 2-1 defeat by Deportivo Pereira.
- For his country Colombia, he made a debut on September 11, 2018 as his country drew 0-0 with Argentina.
Trophies won by Diaz
- EFL Cup with Liverpool in the 2021-22 season.
- Primeira Liga with Porto in 2019-20 season.
- Taca de Portugal with Porto in 2020.
- Supertaca Candido de Oliveira with Porto in 2020.
- Categoria Primera A in 2018 and 2019 with Atletico Junior.
- Copa Colombia with Atletico Junior in 2017.
- Superliga Colombiana in 2019 with Atletico Junior.
Individual achievements
- Golden Boot winner during the 2021 Copa America.
- 2021 Copa America Tournament Revelation.
- Named in the 2021 Copa America Team of the Tournament.
- Two-time Player of the Month in the Primeira Liga.
- Three-time Forward of the Month in the Primeira Liga.
- Three-time Goal of the Month in the Primeira Liga.
- Won the Fair Play Prize in 2021 at Primeira Liga.
