Luis Díaz announced himself on the FIFA World Cup 2026 stage in emphatic fashion, registering a goal and an assist as Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday.

The Bayern Munich winger has been in extraordinary form this season — 49 goal involvements in 51 appearances across all competitions — and he carried that momentum into a tournament where superstars have already set a formidable tone.

Colombia take control

Díaz was the architect of the opening goal in the 35th minute, splitting the Uzbekistan defence with a pass that Daniel Muñoz met with an outstanding hooked finish to put Colombia in front.

Díaz himself struck the post in the 31st minute before that assist, underlining his dominance in the first half. Uzbekistan, making their World Cup debut, refused to fold quietly.

Abbosbek Fayzullaev headed home in the 60th minute to level the scores — the first goal in Uzbekistan's World Cup history — and briefly silenced the Colombian end of the Azteca.

Díaz seals it — then Campaz closes the door

Any momentum Uzbekistan had built dissolved five minutes later when Díaz drove a finish into the far corner to restore Colombia's lead and claim the goal his display had earned.

Substitute Jaminton Campaz put the result beyond doubt nine minutes into stoppage time, heading home a cross from Cucho Hernandez to make it 3-1. Uzbekistan's Bekhruz Karimov still found the crossbar in the dying seconds, but there was no way back for the debutants.

Colombia's win means all 48 teams have now completed their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures, and the picture of the tournament is starting to come into focus. Díaz has placed himself alongside Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane as one of the players defining this competition.

"This has been a World Cup of moments of genius — where the superstars are coming out to play. Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, Kane, and Díaz are all revelling in the spotlight. It's been fun. And there is so much more to come." — Sky Sports' Lewis Jones