Luis Díaz Bio
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza (born 6 December 1998) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a winger. Standing 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, he has represented clubs in his home country and in Major League Soccer. He is currently listed as a player for the New England Revolution. He has also earned caps for the Costa Rica national team, making his senior debut in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza was born on 6 December 1998 in Nicoya, Costa Rica. He grew up in the Guanacaste region of western Costa Rica, where football is a central part of community life. From an early age, he showed a clear interest in the sport, and his hometown environment helped shape his development as a young player.
At the age of five, Díaz joined the youth academy of his local team, A.D. Guanacasteca, where he spent more than a decade learning the fundamentals of the game. He remained with the Guanacasteca academy until he was seventeen, progressing through each age group and building the technical base that would later support his move to the professional ranks.
Path to Soccer
Díaz’s path to professional soccer accelerated in 2016, when he attended a youth tournament with A.D. Guanacasteca. His performances at that event caught the attention of scouts from Municipal Grecia, and he was signed shortly afterward. During the 2016–17 season, he was part of the Grecia squad that earned promotion to Liga FPD, the top division of Costa Rican football, giving him his first taste of senior-level competition.
Over the summer of 2018, transfer rumors linked Díaz to Herediano, one of Costa Rica’s most successful clubs. He officially joined Herediano for the 2019 Clausura, and his strong domestic form quickly attracted attention from clubs abroad. On 2 July 2019, Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew announced that they had signed Díaz for a reported $1 million transfer fee, launching his international career.
Luis Díaz Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Luis Díaz began his senior career with Municipal Grecia in the Costa Rican second division, joining the club in 2016 after his performances in the A.D. Guanacasteca academy. He played a key role in the team’s promotion to Liga FPD during the 2016–17 season, marking the first top-flight experience of his professional career.
Over the next two seasons, Díaz established himself as a quick, direct winger with an eye for goal. His performances in the Costa Rican top flight drew attention from bigger domestic clubs and eventually from Major League Soccer teams abroad.
Herediano Breakthrough (2019)
In early 2019, Díaz made the move to Club Sport Herediano for the Clausura tournament. Playing for one of Costa Rica’s traditional powerhouses, he showed the kind of form that confirmed his reputation as one of the country’s most promising wide players.
His time at Herediano was brief but impactful. The strong platform it provided led directly to his July 2019 transfer to Major League Soccer, where he joined Columbus Crew in a deal reported at $1 million.
Columbus Crew Era (2019–2023)
Luis Díaz made his Columbus Crew debut on 17 July 2019 against the Chicago Fire, entering the match in the 65th minute. He marked the occasion by assisting fellow newcomer Romario Williams on a 90th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw. Later that season, he was named to the league’s Team of the Week after a 3–1 victory over Atlanta United. He finished the 2019 campaign with 13 appearances, two goals, and four assists.
The 2020 season was the high point of his time with Columbus. Díaz featured in 25 matches across the campaign and was part of the squad that won the 2020 MLS Cup, beating Seattle Sounders FC 3–0 in the final. He started three of the club’s four playoff games that year, including the championship match, cementing his place in the club’s history.
In 2021, Díaz began the season strongly, starting ten of the club’s first eleven matches and scoring his first goal of the year against Toronto FC on 29 May. A national team injury and a Gold Cup absence disrupted his rhythm, and he ended the year with twelve appearances and only four starts. He did appear as a substitute in the 2021 Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul. In 2022, he regained a regular starting role and scored key goals against Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Inter Miami CF, though Columbus again missed the postseason. After just four appearances in 2023, Díaz was waived by the club on 5 September 2023.
Colorado Rapids and Saprissa Era (2023–2025)
Three days after being waived by Columbus, Díaz was claimed by the Colorado Rapids. His time in Colorado was short, as he made only three total appearances for the club during the 2023 season.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign, Díaz returned to Costa Rica and signed with Deportivo Saprissa. His spell with Los Morados included two direct red cards—one for violent conduct against Municipal Liberia, which carried a three-game suspension, and another for an excessive-force challenge that led to a two-game suspension. He also scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Guanacasteca.
New England Revolution Era (2025)
On 2 January 2025, Díaz returned to Major League Soccer, signing a free-agent contract with the New England Revolution. He made his Revolution debut on 22 February, starting in the 2025 season opener against Nashville SC. Later in the year, on 14 August 2025, he was waived by the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Luis Díaz is recognized as a quick, direct winger who thrives when running at defenders with the ball. His main strengths include pace, one-on-one dribbling, and the ability to deliver from wide areas, whether through crosses or cut-inside shooting. Throughout his time in Major League Soccer, he showed he could adjust his game to a more reserved, counter-attacking style under coaches who asked him to track back and combine in tight spaces.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the standout moments of his career, the 2020 MLS Cup championship with Columbus Crew stands above the rest, including a starting role in the 3–0 final win over Seattle Sounders FC. He also played in the 2021 Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul. His senior international debut for Costa Rica came on 6 September 2019 in a friendly against Uruguay, replacing Joel Campbell in the 68th minute.
Luis Díaz Career Wins
Luis Díaz has collected senior team honors at both the club and international level. His biggest trophy came with Columbus Crew, and he added further experience with Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica before returning to Major League Soccer.
Costa Rican Domestic Highlights
With Municipal Grecia, Díaz was part of the squad that earned promotion to Liga FPD for the 2016–17 season, giving him his first taste of top-flight football. At Herediano, he continued his rise before earning a move abroad. He later returned to Costa Rica to play for Deportivo Saprissa, where he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over Guanacasteca.
Major League Soccer Highlights
In Major League Soccer, Díaz’s clearest highlight came in 2020, when he helped Columbus Crew win the MLS Cup. He also appeared in the 2021 Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul. Across his stints with Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, and New England Revolution, he registered goals and assists in both the regular season and the CONCACAF Champions League.
Luis Díaz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza was raised in Nicoya, in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, and grew up in a close family environment that supported his early football career. He joined the A.D. Guanacasteca academy at the age of five, and his family played a key role in his development through those formative years.
Personal Life
During his time in Major League Soccer, Díaz used part of his salary to buy his family a new house in Costa Rica, a gesture that reflected his close ties to his hometown and his gratitude for their support throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
Luis Díaz began the 2025 campaign with the New England Revolution after signing a free-agent deal on 2 January 2025. He started the club’s season opener against Nashville SC on 22 February, returning to a starting role in Major League Soccer after a season with Deportivo Saprissa.
As the season progressed, Díaz continued to feature as a winger for the Revolution, offering pace and direct play from wide positions. On 14 August 2025, however, the club waived him, ending his time in New England. The remainder of 2025 will likely be a period in which Díaz evaluates his next move, whether that means another opportunity in Major League Soccer or a return to the Costa Rican first division.