Colombia began its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign impressively as Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz delivered a standout performance to inspire a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

The Colombian star produced a Man of the Match display, proving why he is regarded as one of the most dangerous attackers in world football. Diaz was at the heart of Colombia’s attacking play throughout the contest, creating problems for the Uzbek defence with his pace, movement and creativity.

Making his World Cup debut, the Bayern Munich ace rose to the occasion on football’s biggest stage, helping Colombia secure a crucial opening victory in their Group campaign.

Colombia controlled large periods of the match and showed their attacking quality, finding the net three times against a determined Uzbekistan side. Despite resistance from the Central Asian nation, the South Americans ultimately had too much quality in the final third.

Diaz’s influence was evident throughout the encounter as he consistently drove Colombia forward and played a key role in several of their best attacking moments. His performance earned widespread praise and the official FIFA Player of the Match award.

The victory gives Colombia an ideal start to their World Cup journey and boosts confidence ahead of their remaining group-stage fixtures.

For Diaz, it was a memorable introduction to World Cup football, underlining his importance to Colombia’s hopes of making a deep run in the tournament. With the Bayern Munich forward in this kind of form, Colombia will believe they can challenge some of the competition’s strongest teams in the weeks ahead.