Luis Díaz Achieves Champions League First: double, Red Card, and Record-Breaking Goal in Historic Match
Colombian forward Luis Díaz etched his name into UEFA Champions League history Tuesday, becoming the first player ever to score two goals and receive a red card all within the first half of a match. The unprecedented feat occurred during a game with significant implications for his team’s Champions League campaign, resulting in a suspension for the next two matches.
Díaz’s whirlwind performance-a combination of brilliance and frustration-has captivated football fans and statisticians alike.While his two goals initially propelled his team forward, the subsequent sending-off leaves them facing a challenging path in the competition. The suspension underscores the high stakes of Champions League play, where individual actions can dramatically alter a team’s fate.
According to football data analyst MisterChip, Díaz’s accomplishment is unique in the entirety of Champions league history. “Luis Díaz is the FIRST player with a DOUBLE and EXPULSION in the FIRST half in the ENTIRE history of the UEFA Champions League,” he stated on social media.
The Colombian is not a stranger to Champions League milestones. He also registered the earliest goal by a Colombian player in the competition’s history, scoring at 3 minutes and 22 seconds.This surpassed his own previous record,set while playing for Porto against Milan in 2021,when he scored at 5 minutes and 1 second.
Díaz joins a short list of Colombian players who have been sent off in a Champions League match, including: Mario yepes (2002), Camilo Zúñiga (2011), Santiago Arias (2015), and Juan Cuadrado (2017).However, he is the only one to receive a red card in the first half.
