Luis Diaz has become a key component of Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga-winning side, quickly establishing himself in Bayern Munich’s free-scoring forward line as they secured a 35th title.
With Harry Kane once again Bayern’s main man and Michael Olise blitzing defenders on the right, Diaz’s excellent early season at Bayern can be easily overlooked.
But the Colombians’ selflessness, energy and efficiency – as well as a penchant for the impossible – have been crucial in lifting the Bavarian giants in this campaign.
On Sunday, Diaz scored two of Bayern’s three goals before being subbed off at half-time, securing victory and keeping the final stages of the season in mind.
– ‘He is a worker’ –
Throughout his career, Diaz’s impact has been difficult to measure. A tireless runner with an insatiable appetite for pressure, the Colombian’s impact is less apparent in individual statistics but more evident on the team.
Since moving from his initial club Barranquilla to Junior FC at the age of 20, Díaz has won league titles with each of the four teams he has played for: Junior, Porto, Liverpool and Bayern.
And this season, his statistics match his importance.
The left winger has scored 15 goals and provided 13 assists in 28 league matches so far.
Bayern legend Philipp Lahm, who captained the club to the 2013 Champions League and won eight Bundesliga titles in Munich, highlighted Diaz’s tirelessness as a key factor behind the club’s “outstanding” success this season.
“What sets him apart is that he is also an activist,” Lahm told AFP and other media on Sunday.
“You have great footballers, which is always important. But you also have to work.”
“It sets him apart in an incredible way.
“Also his aggressiveness, and he works in both directions: going forward – and this definitely sets him apart – but also defensively.”
Playing on a team full of attacking firepower, Diaz can sometimes do things that few other players are capable of doing.
After Bayern’s poor performance at Union Berlin in November and falling behind late in the opening half, Diaz scored an incredible goal after Josip Stanisic’s misplaced pass that seemed to end Munich’s attack.
Stanisic put his hands on his head thinking the ball had gone out of play, but Diaz slid onto the grass to keep the ball in play before releasing a rocket from an impossible angle to tie the score.
It was later declared Goal of the Month by the Bundesliga and a clear contender for Strike of the Season, showing a perfect blend of effort and finesse.
His goal in the 89th minute against Real in the second leg of the Champions League final on Wednesday was similar.
The goal put Bayern ahead in the tie, broke Madrid’s resistance and effectively sealed the Bavarians’ place in the semi-finals.
Speaking after the match, Díaz said that the goal was “in the top three, if not number one” of the goals he had scored during his career.
“Looking back at the moment in the game it’s one of my favorites and the one with the most meaning.”
– missed liverpool –
And like all key players, Diaz’s importance is made evident by his absence, with Liverpool clearly missing the Colombian’s influence in a faltering campaign.
While Diaz was popular with players and fans alike, the 28-year-old’s departure was initially seen as a win on Merseyside given his age and huge price tag.
But despite bringing in a number of big-money signings, Liverpool have missed the energy and unpredictability of Diaz this campaign, with the Reds struggling to find someone to take on more than their share of the dirty work.
In his final season at Liverpool, Diaz recorded 17 goals in all competitions – his best in any full campaign in England, showing that there were still more goals to come.
This season, Diaz can win his first Champions League title with Liverpool after losing the 2022 final to Real Madrid.
“We are very focused on what we want, which is to reach the Champions League final, and we want to end the season with a happy ending,” he said.