Before Luis Diaz’s lightning-fast sprints, he was mostly unknown. This true story of an indigenous youngster who was born in a mud hut in Colombia’s most inaccessible region reads like a fairy tale.
The Wayuu are an indigenous tribe that have lived in Colombia’s La Guajira peninsula’s harsh, desolate landscapes for ages. They have retreated into a secluded hamlet, where they call themselves “children of the sun, sand, and wind,” and where they have successfully fought the white man and retained their old civilization, complete with matriarchal clans.
As a result, Wayuu teenager Luis Diaz had a tough experience on his first trip outside of La Guajira. Diaz traveled to a training camp in Bogota, the capital, without bringing any warm clothing in preparation for a soccer competition in Chile for indigenous communities from around South America. The altitude there is about 2.6 kilometers above sea level. Due to rising water levels, the nighttime temperature lowers to dangerously low levels, making survival impossible.
Even on a mattress bed at a mediocre motel, he was content. Compared to the hammock he used to relax in at his mud-and-dried-sugar-cane-plastered home in La Guajira, this is a huge improvement. All this does not mean, however, that Diaz is considering abandoning his own country. On the contrary, he takes great pride in his Wayuu heritage and uses his talents on the pitch to promote his people’s culture.
Diaz achieved his goals. Colombia advanced to the championship game because to Diaz’s brilliant, courageous dribbles down the left corridor and strong shoots that resulted in multiple goals. Even though they lost the championship game to Paraguay, Diaz still came out on top when Barranquilla FC took notice. Neither Diaz’s family nor he had the financial means to go to other cities to try out for football schools before that time.
The Diaz clan consequently pooled their resources to send Diaz to Barranquilla. However, Diaz was nearly turned around on the way there. I’m sure he’s skilled, but he appears like a kid of 12 since he’s so tiny. Diaz’s father said his son was born plump but lost weight after developing a gastrointestinal disorder. To be honest, not at all. The Wayuu people suffer from a high rate of malnutrition, poverty, and a lack of education.
The team had to devise a strategy to bulk up Diaz, which included making him consume a lot of red meat and supplementation. Diaz always brings two food tickets with him to the cafeteria. Whenever there is nice food, he requests three portions from his pals. Diaz also practices relentlessly. He matured into a robust young man who was, unsurprisingly, outstanding in his chosen area.
Diaz continues to wow his old partner Sebastian Viera. His deft personal style and lightning-fast ball control make it impossible to anticipate his next move. Still, Diaz maintains a spotless home at all times. Whether the team is winning or losing, at home or on the road, he always plays with the same level of intensity and commitment.
“He usually seems joyful and upbeat. Percy Moncada, a coach for Barranquilla, remarked, “That hasn’t changed from the time I was a kid until now, in every game, in every shirt.” Another instructor, Roberto Penaloza, likened Diaz’s cool demeanor and quick mind to that of a chess grandmaster. Penaloza’s daughter frequently reminded dad that he needed to shoot many of images with Diaz since the latter was destined for stardom.
So it’s not hard to see why Diaz is expanding at such a rapid rate. Stardom followed him to Junior, where he continued to dominate for Porto and ultimately prompted Liverpool to shell for 45 million euros in January 2022. The Colombian finished his 25-game season with 6 goals and 4 assists. He’s now in the Champions League final, where he’ll be a huge assistance to Liverpool as they try to beat Real.
Diaz will play in front of 80,000 supporters at the Stade de France, which is more than twice as many people as live in his hometown. But he won’t be so rattled that he blows up the moment the battle ends, forcing everyone to talk about Wayuu.
Diaz is revered as a god by all Wayuu. Arzuza Cueto, a native of the Wayuu culture, remarked, “Everyone loves him, because of his humility and always remembering his roots.”