Alec Díaz

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alec Díaz

| image = File:Alec Diaz (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 100px

| alt =

| caption =

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|12|7}}

| birth_place = San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Colorado Rapids 2

| clubnumber = 47

| youthyears1 = 2010–2013

| youthclubs1 = Eastside FC

| youthyears2 = 2013–2015

| youthclubs2 = Pacific Northwest SC

| youthyears3 = 2015–2018

| youthclubs3 = Seattle Sounders FC

| years1 = 2018–2021

| clubs1 = Tacoma Defiance{{efn|Seattle Sounders 2 changed its name to Tacoma Defiance in 2019}}

| caps1 = 65

| goals1 = 14

| years2 = 2022–2023

| clubs2 = Toronto FC II

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 7

| years3 = 2024–

| clubs3 = Colorado Rapids 2

| caps3 = 26

| goals3 = 4

| club-update = June 29, 2024

| nationalyears1 = 2020

| nationalteam1 = Puerto Rico U20

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2019–

| nationalteam2 = Puerto Rico

| nationalcaps2 = 10

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| medaltemplates =

| nationalteam-update = October 25, 2024

}}

Alec Díaz (born December 7, 2001) is a Puerto Rican footballer who plays as a forward who currently plays for MLS Next Pro club Colorado Rapids 2 and the Puerto Rico national team.

Early life

Díaz began playing soccer at age three or four.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/seventeen-year-old-defiance-forward-alec-diaz-making-name-himself-tacoma|title=Seventeen-year-old Defiance forward Alec Diaz is making a name for himself in Tacoma|first=Joseph|last=Mondello|date=March 13, 2019|work=SoundersFC.com}} He played youth soccer with Pacific Northwest SC(PacNW).{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerwire.com/news/semifinal-schedule-set-at-us-youth-soccer-region-iv-championships/|title=Semifinal schedule set at US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships|date=June 26, 2015|work=Soccerwire}} He also played at the state level for Washington.{{Cite web|url=https://goalwashington.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/washington-youth-bring-home-4-region-iv-championships/|title=Washington Youth bring home 4 Region IV Championships|date=January 10, 2016|work=Goal Washington}}

In 2015, he joined the Seattle Sounders FC Academy via the Sounders Discovery Program.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/players/alec-diaz/|title=Alec Diaz Seattle Sounders profile|work=SoundersFC.com}} At the U16 level, he helped them win the Youdan Trophy in 2016 defeating FC Basel. In 2018, he won the USSDA National Championship with the U17 Sounders, scoring 36 goals in 38 matches across all competitions and also scored the winning goal to win the Generation Adidas Cup over the New York Red Bulls Academy.

Club career

In 2018, he signed a USL Academy contract with Seattle Sounders FC 2 (later renamed to Tacoma Defiance).{{cite web|url=https://seasoccer.deltatre.net/news/sounders-fc-2-signs-forwards-alec-diaz-and-danny-robles-professional-contracts-2|title=Sounders FC 2 signs forwards Alec Diaz and Danny Robles to professional contracts for 2019 season|date=October 2, 2018|work=SoundersFC.com}} He made his USL debut on September 5, 2018, appearing as a 59th-minute substitute in a 4–4 draw against the Tulsa Roughnecks.{{cite web|url=https://thegondol.com/2019/09/despunta-un-boricua-en-la-usl/?fbclid=IwAR2G05qN3zSh-ltoD5PFQXqO-VvajoxfMPGJptkI4oo11Rznle5WBaCcb74|trans-title=A Puerto Rican stands out in the USL|title=Despunta un boricua en la USL|date=September 2, 2019|language=es|first=Mario|last=García|work=The Gondol}} He scored his first professional goal on October 10 against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/match-recap-s2-earns-point-home-finale-cheney-stadium|title=S2 Earns Point in Home Finale at Cheney Stadium|date=October 11, 2018|work=Seattle Sounders FC}}

Díaz signed a professional contract with Seattle Sounders FC 2 ahead of their 2019 season. In his first full professional season, he scored one goal in 16 appearances.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tacdefiance.com/alec-diaz-is-ready-to-level-up/|title=Alec Diaz is ready to level up|date=December 17, 2019|work=Tacoma Defiance}} In 2020, he ranked in the top 10 in the league in combined goals and assists per 90 minutes, the only teenager in the top 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.indomitablecitysoccer.com/2021/4/23/22398787/pacific-division-preview-tacoma-defiance|title=Pacific Division preview: Tacoma Defiance|date=April 23, 2021|first=Alicia|last=Rodriguez|work=Indomitable City Soccer}}

In March 2022, he joined Toronto FC II of MLS Next Pro.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/tfc2/news/toronto-fc-ii-sign-forward-alec-diaz|title=Toronto FC II sign forward Alec Díaz|work=Toronto FC|date=March 30, 2022}} On September 15, 2023, he scored a brace with two goals in two minutes against New York City FC II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/new-york-city-fc-ii-3--toronto-fc-ii-3-postgame-summary/n-6014317|title=New York City FC II (3) - Toronto FC II (3) Postgame Summary|date=September 15, 2023|work=Our Sports Central}}

In March 2024, he signed with Colorado Rapids 2 for the 2024 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/colorado-rapids-2-sign-forward-alec-diaz|title=Colorado Rapids 2 sign forward Alec Díaz|date=March 1, 2024|work=Colorado Rapids}} He made his debut on March 17, recording his first assist for the club in a match against St. Louis City 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/recap-colorado-rapids-2-defeat-st-louis-city2-in-first-match-of-the-2024-mls-nex|title=Recap: Colorado Rapids 2 defeat St. Louis CITY2 in first match of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season|date=March 18, 2024|work=Colorado Rapids}} He scored his first goal on March 21 in a 2024 U.S. Open Cup match in a 3–0 victory over Azteca FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/rapids2/news/u-s-open-cup-recap-colorado-rapids-2-advances-to-second-round-of-u-s-open-cup-af|title=U.S. Open Cup Recap: Colorado Rapids 2 advances to Second Round of U.S. Open Cup after a 3-0 win over Azteca FC|date=March 22, 2024|work=Colorado Rapids}}

International career

In January 2019, Díaz was called up to a training camp for the United States U18.{{cite web|url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/u18-mnt-roster-named-for-california-camp_aid45791|title=U18 MNT roster named for California camp|date=January 30, 2018|work=Top Drawer Soccer}}

In September 2019, Díaz was called up to the Puerto Rico national team ahead of a friendly match against Honduras and CONCACAF Nations League match against Guatemala.{{cite web|url=http://www.fedefutbolpr.com/convocados-22-futbolistas-a-la-seleccion-masculina-para-importantes-duelos-ante-rivales-centroamericanos/|title=Convocados 22 futbolistas a la Selección masculina para importantes duelos ante rivales centroamericanos|trans-title=22 footballers summoned to the men's team for important duels against Central American rivals |language=es |website=fedefutbolpr.com|publisher=Puerto Rican Football Federation|date=September 1, 2019|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tacdefiance.com/tacoma-defiance-forward-alec-diaz-puerto-rican-national-team/|title=Tacoma Defiance Forward Akec Diaz called into Puerto Rican national team|date=September 5, 2019|work=Tacoma Defiance}} He made his debut against Honduras on September 5, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://noticias.elhuracanazulpr.com/2019/09/cae-puerto-rico-4-0-ante-honduras.html|title=Cae Puerto Rico 4–0 ante Honduras|trans-title=Puerto Rico falls 4–0 to Honduras|language=es|website=El Huracán Azul|date=September 6, 2019|first=Javier|last=Torres}}

In February 2020, he was called up for the Puerto Rico U-20 national team for the first round of the 2020 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying tournament.{{cite web|url=http://noticias.elhuracanazulpr.com/2020/02/la-sub20-recibe-hoy-islas-caiman-en-el.html|title=La Sub20 inicia su camino hacia la Copa Mundial|trans-title=The U20 starts its way to the World Cup |language=es|website=El Huracán Azul|date=February 19, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020}} He appeared in all three matches, including scoring two goals against the Cayman Islands U20.