Luis Diaz Espinoza

Updated February 1, 2025

LUIS DIAZ AT A GLANCE:

• In parts of five MLS seasons with both the Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids, made 86 appearances, starting 51 times, and tallied six goals and 14 assists.
• Appeared in all four matches, with three starts, during the Crew’s run to the 2020 MLS Cup title under Caleb Porter, collecting two assists.
• Also helped Columbus claim the 2021 Campeones Cup title.
• Owns eight caps for the Costa Rica National Team, making his senior debut in 2019 after previously featuring at the youth level for the U-23 and U-20 sides.
• Began professional career with Municipal Grecia in his native Costa Rica, helping the club gain promotion to the Liga FPD for the first time in 2017.
• Also played for Costa Rica Liga FPD sides CS Herediano in 2019 and Deportivo Saprissa in 2024.

MLS CAREER: In parts of five MLS seasons with both the Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids, made 86 appearances, starting 51 times, and tallied six goals and 14 assists…Added four appearances, with three starts, during the Crew’s run to the 2020 MLS Cup title under Caleb Porter, collecting two assists…Added four appearances in Concacaf Champions Cup action…Signed by New England to a one-year MLS contract with additional club options for 2026 and 2027 on January 2, 2025…In 2023, totaled seven MLS appearances between both the Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids, along with two matches in MLS NEXT Pro for Crew 2…Set career highs in 2022 with 26 appearances in MLS, starting 17 times, and tallying three goals and six assists…During 2021 campaign, appeared in 19 league matches, making 11 starts, and scored one goal…Added one appearance in the 2021 Campeones Cup…Made four appearances, collecting one assist, in 2021 Concacaf Champions League campaign…In 2020, tallied three assists over 21 MLS appearances, with 14 starts…Also added one appearance in MLS is Back Tournament play…Appeared in all four playoff matches during the club’s 2020 MLS Cup run, collecting two assists…Signed with Columbus as a Young Designated Player on July 2, 2019…In first season, made 13 appearances, starting on nine occasions, and tallying two goals and four assists.

2023 (with Columbus and Colorado Rapids): Totaled seven MLS appearances between both the Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids, along with two matches in MLS NEXT Pro for Crew 2…Missed three months with a back injury…Waived by Columbus on September 5…Claimed off waivers by Colorado on September 8…(2/25) at PHI: Made season debut with a 45-minute appearance off the bench…(7/8) vs. NYC: Made return from injury with an eight-minute substitute appearance…(7/15) at POR: Made final appearance for Columbus, logging 12 minutes off the bench…(9/20) vs. SEA: Made Rapids debut, logging 28 minutes off the bench…(9/27) vs. VAN: Matched season-high with a 45-minute shift off the bench.

2022 (with Columbus Crew): Set career highs with 26 appearances in MLS, starting 17 times, and tallying three goals and six assists…(2/26) vs. VAN: In season opener, tallied first goal of the campaign off the bench…(4/2) vs. NSH: Started and recorded first assist of the season, a game-winner…(7/9) at CHI: Registered first career multi-assist game, logging 45 minutes off the bench…(8/6) vs. NYC: Tallied two assists in an 89-minute effort…(8/21) vs. ATL: Recorded sixth assist of the season…(8/31) vs. MIA: Tallied game-winning goal in an 81-minute performance…(9/9) at MTL: Marked the 75^th MLS appearance of his career…(10/5) at CLT: Made 50^th MLS start, tallying third goal of the season.

2021 (with Columbus Crew): During 2021 campaign, appeared in 19 league matches, making 11 starts, and scored one goal…Added one appearance in the 2021 Campeones Cup…Made four appearances, collecting one assist, in 2021 Concacaf Champions League campaign…(4/8) at ESI: Recorded first Concacaf Champions League assist…(5/8) vs. DC: Earned 25^th career MLS start…(5/29) vs. TOR: Scored first goal of the season…(9/25) vs. MTL: Recorded 50^th career MLS appearance…(9/29) vs. CAZ: Made substitute appearance in Campeones Cup, helping see out a 2-0 victory…

2020 (with Columbus Crew): In 2020, tallied three assists over 21 MLS appearances, with 14 starts…Also added one appearance in MLS is Back Tournament play…(3/7) at SEA: Registered first assist of the season in first start…(9/6) vs. CIN: Notched second assist of the campaign…(9/27) at TOR: Collected 25^th MLS appearance…(11/1) vs. PHI: Registered game-winning assist off the bench, his third of the season…Postseason: Appeared in all four playoff matches during the club’s 2020 MLS Cup run, starting three times and collecting two assists…(11/21) vs. RBNY: Made postseason debut, logging nine minutes off the bench as a substitute…(11/29) vs. NSH: Recorded first career assist in the MLS Cup Playoffs…(12/12) vs. SEA: Collected assist in MLS Cup Final victory, logging the full 90 minutes.

2019 (with Columbus Crew): Signed with Columbus as a Young Designated Player on July 2, 2019…In first season, made 13 appearances, starting on nine occasions, and tallying two goals and four assists…(7/17) at CHI: Made MLS debut, playing 25 minutes as a substitute and tallying first assist on a 90^th-minute equalizer…(8/3) at SJ: Made first MLS start, logging second assist of the season…(8/25) at CIN: Recorded first career goal-and-assist performance, his first tally in MLS…(9/14) at ATL: Scored second goal of the season, a game-winner.

CLUB CAREER OUTSIDE MLS: Began professional career with Municipal Grecia in his native Costa Rica, helping the club gain promotion to the Liga FPD for the first time in 2017…In two seasons, made 45 appearances in all competitions, tallying two goals and six assists…Joined CS Herediano ahead of 2019 Clausura season, collecting one goal and two assists in 23 appearances across all competitions…Returned to native Costa Rica in 2024 to join Deportivo Saprissa…Over parts of two seasons with Saprissa, made 49 appearances in all competitions, including 31 in league play, notching four goals and nine assists.

Deportivo Saprissa (CRC): Joined Deportivo Saprissa in 2024…Over parts of two seasons with Saprissa, made 49 appearances in all competitions, including 31 in league play, notching four goals and nine assists…In 2024 Clausura season, recorded four assists in 16 league appearances, and added three Clausura Playoff appearances…Debuted for the club on January 13, 2024 vs. Puntarenas FC, logging an assist in a 3-0 victory…Started both matches during 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup play against Philadelphia Union…Tallied assist in 2024 Supercopa de Costa Rica on July 7 against CS Herediano…On July 17, 2024, scored lone goal in a 3-1 defeat to LD Alajuelense in the Recopa Costa Rica…Made eight appearances during the 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup, tallying two goals and two assists in tournament play…In tournament debut, tallied goal against AD Guanacasteca on July 31, 2024…Registered goal-and-assist performance on October 29, 2024 vs. Comunicaciones…Logged 27 minutes in 2024 Copa de Costa Rica play…Appeared in 15 matches during the 2024 Apertura season, scoring one goal and two assists…In season debut on July 24, 2024, logged goal-and-assist performance vs. AD Guanacasteca…Tallied game-winning assist on September 28, 2024 vs. CS Herediano…Made final appearance for the club on December 18, 2024 vs. CS Herediano in Apertura Playoff action.

CS Herediano (CRC): Signed with CS Herediano ahead of 2019 Clausura season, collecting one goal and two assists in 23 appearances across all competitions…Made club debut on January 26, 2019 vs. AD Carmelita…Saw action in 2019 Concacaf Champions League, starting both matches in the Round of 16 against Atlanta United FC…Logged first assist for the club on February 24, 20219 at AD San Carlos…Scored lone goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Santos de Guápiles FC on April 13, 2019.

Municipal Grecia (CRC): Began professional career with Municipal Grecia in his native Costa Rica, helping the club gain promotion to the Liga FPD for the first time in 2017…In two seasons, made 45 appearances in all competitions, tallying two goals and six assists…In first professional season, totaled 27 appearances and tallied two goals and two assists…Made professional debut on September 17, 2017 at Liberia, logging 58 minutes off the bench…Made first professional start September 24, 2017 against Cartagines…Scored first professional goal on November 12, 2017 vs. Liberia…Notched first professional assist on February 25, 2018 against Guadalupe FC…In 2018 Apertura campaign, logged 18 appearances and registered four assists…Recorded first-career multi-assist game on October 28, 2018 at Cartagines.

NATIONAL TEAM: (Costa Rica): Owns eight caps for the Costa Rica National Team, making his senior debut in 2019 after previously featuring at the youth level for the U-23 and U-20 sides…Made first senior international appearance on September 6, 2019 as a substitute in a friendly against Uruguay…Added to 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup roster, making three appearances with one start in tournament play…Registered first international assist on July 13, 2021 against Guadeloupe…Earned first international start on July 17, 2021 against Suriname…Also made three appearances for the Costa Rica Under-23 side in March 2021 during Olympic Qualification.

Personal: Full name is Luis Mario Díaz Espinoza…Began career with hometown club AD Guanacasteca, spending 12 seasons with the club’s academy after joining at age 5…Earned first professional contract with Municipal Grecia after a strong performance in a youth tournament…Used first MLS paycheck to buy a house for his family in Costa Rica.