Luis Díaz Bio
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza (born 6 December 1998) is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays as a winger. He represents the Costa Rica national team and currently plays in Major League Soccer. Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, Díaz has built a career that spans Costa Rican domestic football, top-flight American competition, and international duty with Los Ticos.
Born in Nicoya, Costa Rica, Díaz developed through local youth systems before earning a move abroad as a teenager. Over the course of his career, he has collected a Major League Soccer championship, played in the CONCACAF Champions League, and represented his country in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. His journey from a small academy in the Guanacaste province to league champion in North America reflects steady progress and resilience.
Early Life and Background
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza was born on 6 December 1998 in Nicoya, a town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in football, and at the age of five he joined the academy of his local club, Asociación Deportiva Guanacasteca. The club, based in the same region where he grew up, provided the foundation for his development as a winger and gave him regular exposure to competitive match environments.
Díaz remained with the Guanacasteca academy for more than a decade, continuing his training there until he was 17 years old. The academy system in Costa Rica is known for producing technically skilled players, and Díaz used that period to sharpen the speed, dribbling, and tactical awareness that would later define his professional game. His progression through the youth ranks prepared him for the transition to senior football and eventually to international opportunities abroad.
Path to Soccer
Díaz’s entry into senior football came through a youth tournament. In 2016, while still with the Guanacasteca academy, he attended a tournament with the club, where he caught the attention of scouts from Municipal Grecia. Shortly afterward, he was signed by Grecia, marking his first professional contract. During the 2016–17 season, he and Grecia earned promotion to Liga FPD, the top division of Costa Rican football, a major milestone for both player and club.
Over the summer of 2018, Díaz became the subject of transfer rumors linking him to Club Sport Herediano, one of Costa Rica’s most decorated clubs. He officially joined Herediano ahead of the 2019 Clausura campaign, though his time there was brief. On 2 July 2019, Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew announced that it had acquired Díaz for a reported $1 million transfer fee, launching his career on the North American stage.
Luis Díaz Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Díaz began his senior career at Municipal Grecia in 2016, helping the club earn promotion to the Costa Rican first division during the 2016–17 season. He spent two years developing at Grecia before moving to Herediano in early 2019. His performances in Costa Rica’s top flight quickly established him as one of the promising young wingers in the country, and his transfer to Columbus Crew followed just months after his Herediano debut.
The transition to Major League Soccer came swiftly. Columbus Crew announced the signing of Díaz on 2 July 2019, and he made his league debut on 17 July 2019 against the Chicago Fire. Coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute, he assisted fellow debutant Romario Williams on a 90th-minute equalizer in a 2–2 draw. He finished his first MLS campaign with 13 appearances, two goals, and four assists, including a place on the league’s Team of the Week after a strong performance against Atlanta United.
Columbus Crew Breakthrough (2019–2023)
The 2020 season marked the high point of Díaz’s time at Columbus Crew. He was part of the squad that won the 2020 MLS Cup, making 25 total appearances for the club across all competitions. Though he was in and out of the starting lineup during the regular season, he started three of the Crew’s four playoff matches, including the final in which Columbus defeated Seattle Sounders FC 3–0. The championship cemented his reputation as a contributor at the highest level of American soccer.
In 2021, Díaz enjoyed a strong start to the season, featuring in all of Columbus’s first eleven matches and starting ten of them, including games in the CONCACAF Champions League. He scored his first goal of the year on 29 May against Toronto FC, his first club goal since September 2019. However, an injury sustained on international duty forced him to miss three straight matches, and a later Gold Cup appearance with Costa Rica kept him out of four more league games. Upon his return, he struggled to lock down a starting role, finishing the year with twelve appearances and four starts. He also came off the bench in the 64th minute of the 2021 Campeones Cup, helping Columbus secure a 2–0 victory over Cruz Azul, though the Crew ultimately missed the playoffs.
The 2022 season began with Díaz on the bench, but he quickly forced his way back into the starting lineup. In the opening match of the season, he came on as a substitute to score the third goal in a 4–0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. A two-assist performance against the Chicago Fire later earned him a regular starting role, and he went on to score the only goal in a 1–0 win over Inter Miami CF. Despite his contributions, Columbus failed to reach the playoffs for a second straight year. By 2023, his playing time had diminished to just four appearances, and on 5 September 2023, he was waived by the club.
Colorado Rapids Era (2023)
Three days after being waived by Columbus, Díaz was claimed by the Colorado Rapids on 8 September 2023. His stint in Colorado was brief, as he featured in only three matches for the club before the end of the season. The short tenure marked the end of his initial run in Major League Soccer and set the stage for a return to Costa Rican football.
Deportivo Saprissa Era (2024–2025)
Following the conclusion of the 2023 MLS season, Díaz returned to Costa Rica and signed with Deportivo Saprissa, one of the country’s most successful clubs. His time at Saprissa was marked by discipline and goalscoring. He twice received direct red cards during his stint, the first in a match against Municipal Liberia for violent conduct, resulting in a three-game suspension, and the second for a challenge deemed to use excessive force, leading to a two-game ban. He scored his first goal for Los Morados in a 3–1 win over Guanacasteca, helping to establish himself in the squad.
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 2025, starting in the season opener against Nashville SC. The signing was viewed as a low-risk move to add pace and experience to the New England attack. On 14 August 2025, however, Díaz was waived by the Revolution, ending his second stint in MLS.
Driving Style and Strengths
Díaz is recognized for his pace, direct dribbling, and ability to deliver from wide positions. Throughout his career, he has been deployed primarily as a winger, using his speed to stretch defenses and create chances through crosses and cutbacks. His tactical flexibility has allowed him to contribute in both starting and substitute roles, and he has shown the capacity to influence matches with both goals and assists.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Díaz’s career highlights is his role in the 2020 MLS Cup championship with Columbus Crew, a tournament in which he started three of the club’s four playoff matches, including the final. He also represented Costa Rica at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, further cementing his international credentials. His first goal for Saprissa, scored in a 3–1 win over Guanacasteca, marked a successful return to Costa Rican football after his time in Major League Soccer.
Luis Díaz Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza has been part of teams that have collected major silverware at both the club and international levels. His most notable achievement came with Columbus Crew, where he was a member of the squad that won the 2020 MLS Cup. He has also represented Costa Rica in major tournaments such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League, contributing to the country’s competitive presence in the region.
Columbus Crew Highlights
Díaz joined Columbus Crew in July 2019 and quickly became a regular contributor, finishing his first half-season with 13 appearances, two goals, and four assists. In 2020, he helped the club capture the MLS Cup, starting three of four playoff matches, including the 3–0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in the final. Across his time with the Crew, he made more than 50 appearances in all competitions.
Other Wins & Performances
Earlier in his career, Díaz helped Municipal Grecia earn promotion to the Costa Rican first division during the 2016–17 season, a defining moment for the club. He also featured for Costa Rica in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, appearing in matches before returning to Columbus duty. His goals and assists at clubs like Saprissa and the New England Revolution added to a well-rounded résumé across multiple leagues.
Luis Díaz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza was raised in Nicoya, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. He joined the academy of his local club, Asociación Deportiva Guanacasteca, at the age of five, where he remained throughout his formative years. Limited public information is available regarding his parents or extended family, though his upbringing in the football culture of Guanacaste played a clear role in his development as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
During his time in Major League Soccer, Díaz used part of his salary to purchase a new house for his family in Costa Rica, a gesture that reflected his close connection to his roots. He has continued to maintain ties to his home country even while playing abroad, and his career path has frequently returned him to Costa Rican football between stints in North America.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza returning to Major League Soccer after a year with Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. He signed a free-agent contract with the New England Revolution on 2 January 2025 and started in the club’s season opener against Nashville SC on 22 February. His arrival was expected to add pace and creativity to New England’s wide attacking options.
As the season progressed, however, Díaz was unable to establish a consistent role with the Revolution. On 14 August 2025, he was waived by the club, ending his second stint in Major League Soccer. The midseason release opened the door for a potential return to Costa Rican football or another opportunity abroad, though no immediate next move was confirmed at the time of his departure.