Luis Fernando Dáz Marulanda, popularly known as Lucho Dáz, is a Colombian professional football player who competes for both the Colombian national team and Premier League club Liverpool as a left winger. He was born on January 13, 1997.

Prior to joining Atlético Junior, Daz began his professional career with Barranquilla in Colombia’s Second Division, where he won one Categora Primera A, one Copa Colombia, and one Superliga Colombiana. He joined Porto in 2019 for an alleged sum of €7 million, winning two Supertaça Cândido de Oliveiras and doubles in the Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal. In the first half of 2021–2022, he scored 14 goals in 18 league games, and Liverpool paid him €45 million (£37.5 million) to sign him. In his debut season, he won both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup, and he was named Man of the Match in the FA Cup final.

Early Life & Education

On January 13, 1997, Luis Dáz, an indigenous Wayuu person, was born in Barrancas, La Guajira, Colombia. At the tender age of six, his father, Luis Manuel Dáz, assumed the role of his first coach, igniting his enthusiasm for football.

In addition to his mother, Silenis Marulanda, and two siblings, Roger David Diaz and Jsüs Manuel Diaz, Luis Daz grew up in a loving household.

Luis Dáz completed his study at the esteemed University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine, where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees.

Club career

Atlético Junior

Daz, who was raised in Barrancas, La Guajira, started playing football when he was six years old. He was known by the nickname “Luchito” and went to his father’s little football academy. In 2014, when he was 17 years old, he participated in an open trial held by Atlético Junior and impressed the team’s coaches enough to be accepted. Due to his Wayuu ancestry, he was selected for Colombia’s 22-man squad for the 2015 Copa Americana de Pueblos Indgenas. He joined the senior team of Atlético Junior in 2016 after making an impression throughout the competition, and was promptly reassigned to the farm team Barranquilla. Barranquilla gave Daz a diet plan to gain 10 kg due to his thin build and maybe starved appearance.

On April 26, 2016, Daz made his senior debut against Deportivo Pereira at home. He entered the game as a second-half substitute. On May 14, he scored his first goal as a senior, the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Ccuta Deportivo at home.

Porto

2019–21: Development and adaptation to Portugal

Dáz signed a five-year contract with FC Porto in Portugal on July 10, 2019, with the club paying €7 million to acquire 80% of his economic rights. Zenit Saint Petersburg had also been interested in him, but Radamel Falcao, James Rodrguez, and his then-national team coach Carlos Queiroz persuaded him to reject the offer. Dáz also acknowledged that he had a pre-contract with Cardiff City before moving to Porto, but the move never happened.

2021–22: Breakthrough and departure

Dáz scored in a 1-1 away tie against Sporting CP on September 11, 2021. On October 9, he scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

With two goals in a 4-0 victory over Moreirense on November 1st, he had scored five goals in his first six league games, best in the league. Twenty-seven days later, in a 2-1 victory against Vitória de Guimares, he scored his tenth goal, a long-range shot that won him the Primeira Liga Goal of the Month title. He was also named the league’s Player of the Month and Forward of the Month for October and November as a result of his contributions.

After contributing three assists and four goals, Dáz was named the league’s forward of the month on December 19 for the second time in a row. Despite departing Porto in the middle of his final season, he finished the year tied for eighth in goals scored with 14. He, Sérgio Oliveira, and Jess Manuel Corona received league champion medals after leaving in January 2022.

Liverpool

2022: Debut season and European final

Daz committed to a five-year deal with Premier League club Liverpool on January 30, 2022, for a reported fee of €45 million (£37.5 million), plus €15 million (£12.5 million) in add-ons. Daz had drawn interest from Tottenham Hotspur before signing with Liverpool. Liverpool chose to recruit Dáz on a permanent basis after learning of Tottenham’s offer and after the player impressed manager Jürgen Klopp.

International career

Daz was a member of Colombia’s under-20 team during the 2017 South American U-20 Championship. On August 27, 2018, he was called up to the full team for friendlies against Venezuela and Argentina.

On September 11, he replaced Juan Cuadrado on his full international debut during a 0-0 draw between the two teams at East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. On March 26, 2019, Daz netted his first goal for his country, tying the score in a 2-1 loss to South Korea in a friendly. He was a member of the 23-man team led by Carlos Queiroz for the 2019 Copa América in Brazil.

Dáz was a member of Colombia’s team for the Copa América in 2021. He scored their first goal in a 2-1 first-round loss to the hosts Brazil on June 23 with a bicycle kick, and on July 6, he scored their goal in a stalemate with Argentina in the semifinals, which Argentina won after a penalty shootout. He scored twice, including the game-winning goal, in a 3-2 triumph over Peru three days later in the third-place game. Together with Lionel Messi, he finished the competition with the most goals scored.

Personal life

Díaz's brother, Jesús, is also a professional footballer, and currently plays for Porto B. He is of Wayuu origin, making him the first indigenous Colombian to represent Colombia. In July 2023, Díaz got engaged to his girlfriend, Gera Ponce.

Alleged kidnapping of parents

On 28 October 2023, Díaz's parents were reportedly kidnapped by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, their hometown. His mother was rescued by police a day later, with a "major military search" announced to locate his father. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed "all the public forces have been deployed" and the following day, General William Rene Salamanca announced a reward of up to 200 million pesos for information on Díaz's father's whereabouts. As of 30 October, his father is still missing. According to Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, information has been obtained "regarding the possibility that his father could be in Venezuela", which would "require intervention by President Petro". Díaz was absent for Liverpool's following Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, with his teammate Diogo Jota holding up Díaz's shirt during a goal celebration. After the game, Jurgen Klopp stated "it was clear we had to give the game an extra sense and it was fighting for Lucho."

Awards & Nominations

• 2021 Copa América Golden Boot (joint)
• 2021–22 Primeira Liga Player of the Month (October, November)
• 2021–22 Primeira Liga Forward of the Month (October, November, December)
• 2022 EFL Cup Final Man of the Match