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Luis Diaz is set to receive a call-up to the Colombian national team for upcoming ties against Brazil and Paraguay whilst his father remains a captive of the ELN guerilla group, according to local reports.
The Liverpool star offered up a passionate plea to his father Luis Manuel Diaz’s captors on Sunday when he revealed a t-shirt printed with the words ‘Freedom for Dad’ written in Spanish under his jersey.
The 26-year-old revealed the message after scoring his side’s late equaliser against Luton on Sunday, and escaped punishment for doing so by the FA on compassionate grounds.
The ELN requested the move from Colombia’s armed forces in a bid to facilitate his release, after kidnapping Diaz Snr and his wife Cilenis Marulanda – who was released hours later – over 10 days ago.
Luis Diaz revealed an enotional message to his father’s captors after scoring against Luton
Colombian military have moved personnel back to the town of Barrancas in a bid to force Diaz Snr’s release
Luis Manuel Diaz has been missing for nearly 11 days after being snatched off the street in his hometown by armed men on motorcycles
But amidst the turbulence, Diaz is expected to be named to Nestor Lorenzo’s squad for the country’s next spate of internationals, both of which are World Cup qualifiers, according to Colombian journalist Diego Rueda.
The first, against Brazil, is set to take place in Colombia’s Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla on November 17, with a trip to Paraguay taking place four days later.
It was previously decided that it was a security risk for Diaz to travel to his home country in the wake of the kidnapping crisis, due to concerns over the player’s own personal safety.
Colombians – including Ambassador to the UK Roy Barreras – previously called for a boycott of the international fixtures in a bid to force the release of Diaz Snr.
The forward is a national hero in Colombia, where he is known by the affectionate nickname ‘Lucho’, and the campaign stemmed from the success of Brazilian star Romario’s own efforts to use a World Cup boycott to speed up the release of his father in 1994.
Two days after the Brazilian called the press conference announcing he would not be travelling with the squad to the World Cup that year, Romario’s father was released.
So well thought of is Diaz in his home country that an ELN leader admitted that it had been a mistake to take his father hostage.
The 26-year-old is a beloved member of the national team and affectionately known as ‘Lucho’
Diaz has earned 43 caps for his country since his debut for the national team in August 2018
‘The retention of Luis Diaz’s father by the Northern War Front was a mistake,’ ELN commander Antonio Garcia wrote on his Telegram channel on Sunday.
‘Lucho is a symbol of Colombia – that is how we in the ELN feel about him.’
Colombia currently sit fifth in their qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup at the very start of their campaign, hunting a win after draws against Ecuador, Uruguay, and Chile.
World Cup winners Argentina sit first in the group, ahead of Uruguay and Brazil, thanks to their as yet unbeaten record.
