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Count Luis Díaz among the best players who have already performed well for his team this summer.
In the final opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, the Colombian star winger did exactly what fans expected of him, scoring a second-half goal against Uzbekistan to help his team to a 3-1 victory.
Díaz has already entered the World Cup as a star – he was No. 23 in FOX Sports’ top 100 players – especially after such successful seasons with Liverpool and now with Bayern Munich. I expected him to start the tournament full of confidence, and now you see him absolutely on fire.
At the last second, I replaced Kylian Mbappé with Díaz, which seemed daring to me. But I followed my instinct, and the Colombian star is always my choice after each team’s first day of play.
He brings so much flair and danger in attack, but with his versatility he will also make a defensive shift. It is simply complete and cannot be overlooked.
He’s one of the most dangerous players in this World Cup, and I actually think Uzbekistan didn’t do a great job limiting him. And he took full advantage of it.
A shot bounced off the post. But when he scored that goal against Uzbekistan in the 65th minute, he scored it, deflected off the goalkeeper and managed to go in.
The difference between this crucial moment and an unforgettable failure was only a matter of centimeters. But those inches and those opportunities are where Díaz excels.
He toes the line while managing and maximizing those moments, and his positional awareness – on and off the ball – helps him succeed.
Real scoring chances are rare at the World Cup, but he has an eye for goal like no one else. He is capable of scoring in many different ways, and this talent, combined with his speed and technical execution, can be the backbone of this Colombian team as it attempts to advance from Group K.
I still have concerns about Colombia’s defensive capabilities. But at least Los Cafeteros have one of the main goal threats on their side.
The way Díaz can fly across the field but instantly change direction – I can’t imagine being a defender in that position because he will definitely surprise you.
He has been incredibly clinical at club level, and we are now seeing that carry over to the World Cup. He obviously has a powerful shot, his accuracy is key, and he is still able to land a chilina, or bicycle kick.
Díaz tries to isolate himself as much as possible, and if you let him, if you give him space, he will crush a defender down the line. And as he’s shown on multiple occasions, he’ll step up when his team needs him to.
When Díaz is on the field, expect the unexpected. And don’t take your eyes off him.
