Luiz Diaz: The Barcelona target that rivalled Lionel Messi

When the 2021 Copa America concluded, there were two standout players, Lionel Messi and Luiz Diaz. Colombian winger, Luiz Fernando Diaz Marulanda took Brazil by storm, scoring 4 goals to end up joint top-scorer of the competition along with Lionel Messi. The Copa tournament capped off an excellent 2020/21 season for the 24-year-old who had scored 11 goals for his Porto club side in the Primeira Liga. So who is Luiz Diaz and what are his records? 

Luiz Diaz career records and statistics

Luiz Diaz is a Colombian winger who currently plays for Portuguese Liga side, FC Porto. Diaz started his senior career in 2016 with Barranquilla in the second division of his native Colombia. After just one season in the Categoria Primera B, first division side, Atletico Junior came calling for the 2017/18 season. At Junior, put in an eye-catching spell, scoring 20 goals in 106 appearances in just 2 seasons. He also won the Copa Colombia (2017), Categoria Primera A (2018), and the Superliga Colombiana (2019).

His impressive performances for Junior convinced FC Porto to part with €7m to purchase 80% of his rights and bring him to the Primera Liga in 2019. Luiz Diaz hit the ground running in the Portuguese league, scoring 14 goals in 50 appearances in his maiden season with the club. His goals helped FC Porto to be crowned the Portuguese league champions that year, winning the Primeira Liga. He also won the Taca de Portugal in the 2019/20 season. 

Luiz Diaz continued his goalscoring form for Porto in the 2020/21 season. The 24-year-old winger scored 11 goals in 47 matches for his side, also scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal against Manchester City in a 1-3 home defeat to the English giants. Diaz helped Porto win the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira Cup in 2021 before heading off to the Copa America with Colombia.

Luiz Diaz International career and 2021 Copa America

Luiz Diaz is a full Colombian international, first representing his country at the 2017 South-American U-20 Championship. Diaz made his debut for the Colombian senior national team on September 11th, 2018 in a friendly against Argentina played in New Jersey, United States. Diaz was called up to the 2021 Copa America Colombia squad and it was at this tournament he announced himself on the South-American scene. 

Luiz Diaz scored 4 goals at the 2021 Copa America, leading Colombia to a 3rd place finish at the competition. On the individual level, Diaz won the Golden Boot award for the tournament, sharing the award with Lionel Messi who also scored 4 goals. Diaz was also included in the Copa America Team of the Tournament for his impressive displays.