Footballer of the Colombian national team and English Liverpool Luis Diaz brought victory to the national team in the match against the Brazilian team (2:1) in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The winger scored a brace against the Selecao at the Roberto Melendez Stadium in the Colombian city of Barranquilla.
Diaz’s father, who had previously spent almost two weeks in captivity after being kidnapped, watched his son’s scoring extravaganza in the arena.
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— I thought about my dad all the time on the field. He always had the right mentality in difficult times. This victory and the goals are dedicated to him,” Diaz said after the match.
What is known about the kidnapping of Luis Diaz's parents?
Luis Diaz's parents were kidnapped in Barrancas, Colombia at the end of October. His mother was rescued immediately, but his father remained hostage. Due to the incident, the footballer missed several Liverpool matches.
The Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), which the country's government, as well as the EU and the US consider a terrorist organization, was behind the kidnapping. An ELN spokesman in early November called the kidnapping a mistake and said the footballer's father would be released soon.
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On November 9, it became known that Manuel Diaz was handed over to representatives of the UN and the local Catholic Church. Five days later, the man met his son for the first time since the abduction.
The victory over the Brazilian national team allowed the Colombians to overtake the Seleção and rise to third place in the standings. After five matches played, only Argentina and Uruguay are ahead of them.
Six teams from the CONMEBOL zone will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The team that takes seventh place will play for the right to compete at the World Cup in the intercontinental playoffs.
