Luis Diaz is the 'worker' who makes champions Bayern click

Luis Diaz has become a core component of Vincent Kompany's Bundesliga-winning side, quickly establishing himself in Bayern Munich's free-scoring forward line as they secured a 35th title.

With Harry Kane once again Bayern's main man and Michael Olise bewitching defenders from the right, Diaz's outstanding opening season at Bayern could easily be overlooked. 

But the Colombian's selflessness, energy and workrate -- along with a penchant for the impossible -- have been key in elevating the Bavarian giants this campaign. 

On Sunday, Diaz laid on two of Bayern's three goals before he was subbed off at half-time, with victory secure and the closing stages of the season in mind. 

'He's a worker'

Throughout his career, Diaz's influence has been hard to measure. A tireless runner with an insatiable appetite for pressing, the Colombian's impact is less clear in individual statistics but more apparent on the team. 

Since moving from his formative club Barranquilla to Junior FC aged 20, Diaz has won league titles at each of the four sides he has played for: Junior, Porto, Liverpool and Bayern. 

And this season, his statistics have matched his importance. 

The left winger has notched up 15 goals and 13 assists in 28 league matches so far. 

Bayern legend Philipp Lahm, who captained the club to the 2013 Champions League and won eight Bundesliga titles in Munich, highlighted Diaz's relentlessness as a key factor behind the club's "outstanding" success this season. 

"What sets him apart is that he's also a worker," Lahm told AFP and other media on Sunday. 

"You have brilliant footballers in your ranks, which is always important. But you also have to work.

"That sets him apart in unbelievable fashion.

"Also his aggression, and that he works in both directions: going forward -- and that definitely sets him apart -- but also defensively."

Playing in a team full of attacking firepower, Diaz can occasionally do things few other players are capable of. 

With Bayern out of sorts and trailing late in the opening half away at Union Berlin in November, Diaz scored an incredible goal after a misplaced pass from Josip Stanisic seemed to have ended a Munich attack. 

Stanisic placed his hands on his head thinking the ball had gone out of play, but Diaz slid across the grass to keep the ball in play before unleashing a rocket from an impossible angle to level the scores. 

Later named goal of the month by the Bundesliga and a clear contender for strike of the season, it showed a perfect blend of effort and finesse. 

His 89th-minute goal against Real in their Champions League final second leg on Wednesday was similar. 

The goal put Bayern ahead in the tie, broke Madrid's resistance and effectively sealed the Bavarians' place in the semi-finals. 

Speaking after the match, Diaz said the goal was "in the top three, if not number one" of the those he had scored during his career. 

"It is one of my favorites and the one with the most meaning, given the moment in the game."

Missed by Liverpool

And as with all key players, Diaz's importance is also illustrated by his absence, with Liverpool clearly missing the Colombian's impact in a stuttering campaign. 

While Diaz was popular with players and fans alike, the 28-year-old's departure was initially seen as a win on Merseyside given his age and big price tag. 

But despite bringing in several big money signings, Liverpool have missed Diaz's energy and unpredictability this campaign, with the Reds struggling to find someone to pick up more than their share of the dirty work. 

In his final season at Liverpool, Diaz recorded 17 goals in all competitions -- his best in any full campaign in England, suggesting that there was still more to come. 

This season, Diaz could win a first Champions League title having lost the 2022 final to Real Madrid with Liverpool. 

"We are very focused on what we want, which is to reach the Champions League final, and we want to cap off the season with a happy ending," he said.