Luis Diaz’s infectious smile and tireless work ethic are qualities he has carried with him from his upbringing in Colombia.
The 27-year-old attributes his joyful demeanour and exceptional talent on the football field to his roots in the town of Barrancas, located in the La Guajira region.
Diaz’s impressive performances with Barranquilla FC and Junior in Colombia caught the eye of FC Porto, where he flourished for two-and-a-half seasons before Liverpool secured his signature in January 2022.
Reflecting on his journey, Diaz recently shared his thoughts with UEFA: “[Growing up in] La Guajira, let’s say, is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Barrancas is a place that I’m proud of, knowing that I was born there, knowing that I came from there.
“The fact that my roots are in Barrancas has always been something that I have been proud of.
“[I’m from] a very small village.
“There is a side to it that’s like many towns and cities, but it’s a very friendly village, [and it’s] very beautiful, very pleasant and very cheerful.
“The people there are very nice.
“The main characteristics are that it’s, let’s say, a very small village.
“Most people there know each other, they get along very well with each other.
“They’re determined people, they also strive to better themselves.
“No matter how few opportunities they get and how little they have, they are always trying to live life with a smile on their face, trying to forge the best path forward for themselves, trying to be happy with what they have.
“They’re always cheerful, they’re always living life with a smile on their face and they’re always trying to forge the best path forward for themselves.”
As of now, Diaz has recorded 29 goals and 11 assists for Liverpool, contributing to the team’s triumphs in the Emirates FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
He reminisced about his childhood in Barrancas, sharing memories that reflect some of the qualities evident in his play today under Arne Slot’s management.
“The nail story, yes!” Diaz began.
“It was great.
“When we were playing on a pitch in front of my grandmother’s house, all we cared about was playing football and having a good time.
“It used to be a dirt pitch, with stones, poor quality, but we were happy and we would play there.
“That’s where the story about my nail comes in.
“There were too many stones and the ground was too dirty.
“I hit the ball wrong and my toenail came off.
“I said, ‘I don’t mind, I want to keep playing.’ I wanted to keep playing. That was all I wanted to do.
“I don’t know, I really didn’t care much about anything else. I took a plaster and carried on.
“I have so many stories from there, where children were playing.
“I have a very nice story that took place in a park, Parque Romero.
“This is a very popular park in Barrancas. It was a big tournament featuring many local teams.
“I was a child and we had a very good team. We played in the final. The final was great.
“At the beginning, we were 3-0 down. I came off the bench, changed the match [and] scored a goal.
“We went to a penalty shootout. It was 3-3, then 4-3, then 4-4.
“And I scored the last penalty in the final, and we won the tournament. It was a fabulous day.”
Diaz’s ascent throughout his career has only strengthened his determination.
A standout performer for the Reds at the start of the 2024-25 season, the attacker has already scored five goals and aims to surpass the 13 he netted last season.
“Let’s hope so! That’s the idea,” he said.
“I always think about helping the team, which is the most important thing.
“I think it’s a good number.
“I always try to get better each year, to improve what I did the previous one, and the goals and assists come on their own.”
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