Luis Díaz might be the best player in the tournament who has still never played in a World Cup. Colombia missed Qatar 2022, which means one of South America’s most electric attackers is finally getting his first chance on the biggest stage at age 29. That alone makes him one of the tournament’s best storylines.
He also arrives in a very different place than he was a few years ago. Díaz is now a Bayern Munich star after moving from Liverpool in 2025, and Transfermarkt lists him at $82.3m. His first Bundesliga season has been outstanding, with 15 goals and 13 assists in 31 appearances, which is exactly the kind of production Colombia need him to carry into the summer.
For Colombia, Díaz is not just a winger. He is the attacking identity. James Rodríguez is still the captain and the sentimental figure, but Díaz is the player opponents fear most. He finished tied for second in South American qualifying scoring, behind only Lionel Messi, and that fits the feel of this Colombia team: organized, experienced, and still capable of letting Díaz turn a tight match with one burst down the left.
That matters because Colombia’s group is tricky. They open Group K against Uzbekistan, then face DR Congo and Portugal. Portugal are the headliner, but the first two matches are exactly the kind of games where Colombia will be expected to take control and where Díaz’s end product becomes essential. If he is sharp, Colombia have the top-end attacker to win those games without needing James to turn back the clock every night.
What makes Díaz especially fun is that he plays with a little chaos. He is not a sterile possession winger. He attacks defenders, presses, rides contact, cuts inside, shoots from bad angles, and brings a kind of emotional energy that fits Colombia perfectly. There is a reason he has become the face of this team’s return to the World Cup.
Colombia have enough talent to be dangerous, but Díaz is the player who can make them more than just a solid knockout contender. If he looks like the Bayern version of himself, Colombia can win Group K. If they get into a knockout game against a favorite, he is the player most likely to make the one play that changes everything.