Diego Lainez

Diego Lainez Leyva (born 9 June 2000) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga MX club Tigres UANL and the Mexico national team.

Not to be confused with Diego Laynez.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lainez and the second or maternal family name is Leyva.
Diego Lainez
Lainez in 2017
Personal information
Full name Diego Lainez Leyva[1]
Date of birth (2000-06-09) 9 June 2000[1]
Place of birth Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Tigres UANL
Number 16
Youth career
2012–2017 América
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 América 39 (5)
2019–2023 Betis 55 (0)
2022 → Braga (loan) 6 (1)
2023 → Tigres UANL (loan) 19 (0)
2023– Tigres UANL 6 (2)
International career‡
2017 Mexico U17 6 (2)
2018–2019 Mexico U20 10 (0)
2018–2019 Mexico U21 8 (1)
2021 Mexico U23 6 (0)
2018– Mexico 26 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner2023 United States–CanadaTeam
CONCACAF Nations League
Runner-up2021 United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2020 Tokyo{{{3}}}
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 July 2023

Club career

América

Lainez was recruited by scout Ángel González along with his brother Mauro. Mauro decided to join Pachuca's academy, while Diego opted to join Club América.[3]

On 1 March 2017, Lainez made his competitive debut with América in the Copa MX group stage match against Santos Laguna.[4] Three days later, he made his league debut against León, becoming one of the club's youngest players to debut for the first team at 16 years old.[5] On 19 March, after a lineup error that ruled out Gerson Torres from being eligible to play,[6] Lainez was assigned to start against Pumas UNAM.[7]

On 4 August 2018, Lainez scored his first two goals for América in a 3–1 win over Pachuca at Estadio Hidalgo; he became the youngest player to score a double with the club, and the fifth youngest to score a goal in the club's history.[8] On 18 September, Lainez suffered a sprained ankle on his left foot during training following a tackle from Bruno Valdez,[9] forcing him to miss out on four weeks of action, including the Súper Clásico against arch-rivals Guadalajara.[10] He would return from injury on 20 October, and scored his first goal playing in the Estadio Azteca as América defeated Tijuana 3–0.[11] Lainez scored in both legs of the Apertura semifinal series against Universidad Nacional,[12] making him the youngest player to ever score during the playoff stage for the club.[13]

Betis

On 10 January 2019, Lainez joined La Liga club Real Betis on a five-year contract reportedly worth $14 million.[14] The move made him the youngest player to emigrate from the Liga MX,[15] as well as the second most expensive transfer paid for a Mexican player by a European club.[16] He was handed the squad number 22.[17] He made his debut in La Liga on 20 January in a 3–2 home victory over Girona, making his appearance as an 81st-minute substitute.[18] The following week, Lainez earned a starting berth and played 75 minutes in Real's 1–0 defeat to Athletic de Bilbao.[19] On 14 February, he became the youngest Mexican player to score in the UEFA Europa League when he netted an injury-time equalizer in a 3–3 draw with Rennes in the first leg of the round of 32.[20]

On 19 December, Lainez scored his second competitive goal for Betis – a free kick – in the 4–0 victory over Antoniano in the first round of the Copa del Rey.[21]

Braga (loan)

On 29 July 2022, Lainez joined Primeira Liga club Braga on a season-long loan.[22] On 12 August 2022, Lainez made his debut during a 3–0 win over Famalicão, entering as a substitute at the 73rd minute. On 28 August 2022, Lainez scored his first and only goal with Braga in a 6–0 win over Arouca.

After failing to make an impact at the club, his loan deal was terminated early.

Tigres UANL

On 30 January 2023, Lainez returned to Mexico and joined Tigres UANL on a one-year loan.[23] On 26 July 2023, Lainez move became permanent after the club activated his release clause.

International career

Youth

Lainez was ruled out of the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship due to his activity with Club América's first team.[24]

On 14 September 2017, Lainez was included in final roster that participated at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[25] In Mexico's second group match against England, he scored twice in the team's 3–2 loss.[26]

On 25 October 2018, Lainez was called up by Diego Ramírez to participate in the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[27] Mexico finish runner-up in the competition, with Lainez being named in the Best XI.[28] In April 2019, Lainez was included in the 21-player squad to represent Mexico at the U-20 World Cup in Poland.[29]

Lainez was included in the final roster that participated at the 2018 Toulon Tournament.[30] He scored the opening goal against Qatar in Mexico's 4–1 win.[31] He would go on to win the Best Player Award,[32] as well as make the Best XI of the competition as Mexico finished runner-up.[33]

Lainez was included in the final roster that participated in the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.[34] He appeared in all three group stage matches as Mexico finished last in their group with one point.

Ruled out for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship as it was not a FIFA-sanctioned tournament,[35] Lainez was subsequently called up to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics. He won the bronze medal with the Olympic team.[36]

Senior

On 29 August 2018, Lainez received his first call-up to the senior national team by interim manager Ricardo Ferretti for the friendly matches against Uruguay and the United States.[37] He earned his first cap in Mexico's 4–1 defeat to Uruguay on 7 September.[38] On 13 October 2020, Lainez scored a late-tying goal against Algeria, tying the match at two, his first goal with the national team.[39]

On 6 June 2021, Lainez scored against the United States just seconds after coming on as a substitute in the Concacaf Nations League Final to make it 2–1, but Mexico ultimately lost 3–2.[40] He was included in the Best XI of the tournament.[41]

In October 2022, Lainez was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad by manager Gerardo Martino for the World Cup, but did not make the final 26.[42]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 8 October 2023[43]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
América 2016–17 Liga MX 9010———100
2017–18 15060—1[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0230
2018–19 15530———185
Total 395100—1010515
Betis 2018–19 La Liga 12020—2[lower-alpha 5]1—161
2019–20 15031———181
2020–21 21040———250
2021–22 7022—4[lower-alpha 5]0—132
Total 550113—61—724
Braga (loan) 2022–23 Primeira Liga 6111303[lower-alpha 5]0—132
Tigres UANL (loan) 2022–23 Liga MX 190——4[lower-alpha 3]0—230
Tigres UANL 2023–24 Liga MX 62———4[lower-alpha 6]0102
Career total 1258224301415016913
  1. Includes Copa MX, Copa del Rey and Taça de Portugal
  2. Includes Taça da Liga
  3. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  4. Appearance in Supercopa MX
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearances in Leagues Cup

International
As of match played 12 July 2023[44]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mexico 201820
201930
202021
202172
202270
202350
Total263
Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lainez goal.
List of international goals scored by Diego Lainez
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
113 October 2020Cars Jeans Stadion, The Hague, Netherlands Algeria2–22–2Friendly
26 June 2021Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States United States2–12–3 (a.e.t.)2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final
330 June 2021Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States Panama1–03–0Friendly

Style of play

"I look to take players on a lot, play a lot of one-twos, but I also like to shoot from distance."

—Lainez on his own playing style, March 2017.[45]

Described as "a diminutive, left-footed forward with a sharp burst of pace", Lainez has been praised as one of the best young players in the world, being featured in The Guardian's 2017 list of the 60 best young talents in world football,[46] as well as Goal.com's 2017,[47] 2018,[48] and 2019[49] NxGn lists of the world's best teenage players.

Lainez has shown maturity in his playing style despite his young age.[50][51][52] He has been described as "creative and methodical in terms of orchestrating attacks. Despite being a teenager, Lainez has a very mature reading of the game which often fuels his sharp decision-making on the field." Lainez appears equally adept at passing and crossing as well as not shirking away from his defensive duties.[53] Thomas Harrison of Outsideoftheboot.com described him as "a winger who can also operate as a 'number ten', [he] is renowned for his outstanding balance, trickery and change of pace when running with the ball, and the stats back up this belief. Diego ended the 2017–18 with a dribble success rate of above 65%, one of the highest figures for an attacking player in Liga MX."[54] Lainez is also known for his high-rated dribbling attributes in the popular video game franchise FIFA as a silver player.[55] He has cited Lionel Messi as an idol and an influence on his playing style.[47]

Honours

América

Betis

Tigres UANL

Mexico U23

Mexico

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Mexico" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. "Diego Lainez". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. "Tesoros de la Coca". Adrenalina (in Spanish). Excelsior. 10 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. "De último minuto, Santos venció a América y calificó en Copa". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. "Diego Lainez le cambió la cara a un gris América que igualó 1-1 con León" (in Spanish). Univision. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  6. "¡Increíble! El América no sabía que Gerson Torres no podía jugar" (in Spanish). Marca. 19 March 2017.
  7. "Lainez repite como titular, ahora no por necesidad" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 2 April 2017.
  8. "Diego Lainez el américanista más joven en anotar doblete" (in Spanish). Club América. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  9. Orvañanos, Alejandro (18 September 2018). "Diego Lainez sufrió un esguince en el entrenamiento del América". Marca. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  10. "¿Por qué Diego Lainez no juega el Clásico entre América y Chivas?". Goal. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  11. "Diego Lainez marcó su primer gol en el Estadio Azteca con América". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  12. "Cuántos goles lleva Diego Lainez en Primera". Goal.com (in Spanish). 9 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  13. "Diego Lainez, el jugador más joven de América en anotar gol en Liguilla". Récord. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  14. Arnold, Jon (10 January 2019). "Club America transfer news: 18-year-old Diego Lainez signs with Real Betis". Goal. Goal.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  15. "Diego Lainez, el mexicano más joven en emigrar a Europa" [Diego Lainez, the youngest Mexican to emigrate to Europe] (in Spanish). La Áficion. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  16. "Diego Lainez, el segundo jugador mexicano más caro que va a Europa" [Diego Lainez, the second most expensive Mexican ever to move to Europe] (in Spanish). La Áficion. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  17. "Real Betis: Squad". Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  18. "Diego Lainez hace su debut en La Liga" [Lainez makes his debut in La Liga] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  19. "Diego Lainez disputó 75 minutos en su primer partido como titular" [Diego Lainez disputes 75 minutes in his first match as a starter] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  20. "Diego Lainez's late goal salvages draw for Real Betis vs. Stade Rennes". ESPN. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  21. "Diego Lainez luce con golazo en triunfo del Betis en Copa del Rey". Informador.mx. 19 December 2019.
  22. "Diego Lainez é Gverreiro". SC Braga. 29 July 2022.
  23. "El Real Betis y el Club Tigres UANL llegan a un acuerdo para la cesión de Lainez" (in Spanish). Real Betis Balompié. 30 January 2023.
  24. "Diego Lainez no es seleccionado para la sub 17". Dilofutbol.com. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  25. "Diego Lainez encabeza convocatoria del Tri para el Mundial Sub 17". www.univision.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  26. "FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 - Matches - England-Mexico". FIFA. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  27. "With the surprise of Diego Lainez, Mexico release call up for CONCACAF U-20 Championship". FMF State of Mind. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  28. "TSG announces the 2018 CU20 Best XI". CONCACAF.com. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  29. "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México Sub-20". MiSeleccion.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  30. "Revelan convocatoria del Tri Sub-21 para el torneo Esperanzas de Toulon". ESPN (in Spanish). 22 May 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  31. "Mexico Roll Past Qatar 4-1 in 2018 Toulon Tournament". Bleacher Report. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  32. "Festival International Espoirs 2018 : les récompenses" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 12 June 2018.
  33. "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018" (in French). Toulon Tournament. 11 June 2018.
  34. "Diego Lainez to lead team for the Central American and Caribbean Games". FMF State of Mind. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  35. "¿Por qué Diego Lainez y Gerardo Arteaga no jugarán el Preolímpico con la Selección mexicana?". Goal.com (in Spanish).
  36. "Revelan lista oficial de la Selección Sub-23 que acudirá a Tokio 2020". 5 July 2021.
  37. "Convocatoria de la Selección Nacional de México". miseleccion.mx (in Spanish). Mexican Football Federation. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  38. "Lainez y Alvarado, el futuro Tricolor" [Lainez and Alvarado, the Tricolor future]. ESTO (in Spanish). 3 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  39. Marshall, Tom (13 October 2020). "Mexico levels late in friendly with 10-man Algeria". ESPN.
  40. "Christian Pulisic, Ethan Horvath lead U.S. over Mexico in Nations League final".
  41. "Pulisic, Lainez head up CNLF Best XI". 8 June 2021.
  42. Gálvez, Pedro (14 November 2022). "Oficial: Los 5 sacrificados de la Selección Mexicana para Qatar 2022". Tvazteca.com (in Spanish).
  43. "D. Lainez". Soccerway.
  44. "Diego Lainez". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  45. "Diego Lainez: I play like Messi". Marca. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  46. "Next Generation 2017: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  47. "Meet Diego Lainez: The 16-year-old sensation who dreams of becoming the 'Mexican Messi'". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  48. "NxGn 2018: The 50 best teenagers in the world". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  49. "NxGn 2019: The best 50 wonderkids in football". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  50. Arenas, Alain (8 September 2018). "Diego Lainez, un talento precoz que se impone a sus entrenadores". El Economista. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  51. Valdez, Jesús (2 June 2018). "Diego Lainez podría irse al Lyon por 25 millones de euros". Marca. Retrieved 7 November 2018. 'Diego tiene un potencial que ya es muy interesante para su edad y muestra madurez en su juego', agregó [Jordan] Bozonnet.
  52. "Diego Laínez da muestras de Madurez". Pasión Águila. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  53. Sengupta, Meghna. "Who's This Mexican Attacker Liverpool Are Trying To Sign? Everything You Need To Know". Soccersouls.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  54. Harrison, Thomas (16 August 2018). "Talent Radar: Liga MX's 10 Young Players to Watch in 2018-19". Outsideoftheboot.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  55. "Diego Lainez FIFA stats". fifplay.com. 31 December 2022.
  56. "Real Betis 1–1 Valencia (5–4 on pens): Real Betis win Copa del Rey final on penalties". BBC Sport. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  57. "Mexico win Olympic bronze medal after beating hosts Japan at Tokyo 2020". Goal. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  58. "Mexico beats Panama in Gold Cup final with late Gimenez goal". ESPN. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  59. "L'équipe type du Festival International Espoirs 2018". www.festival-foot-espoirs.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  60. CONCACAF [@CNationsLeague] (7 June 2021). "Here is the Best XI of the Concacaf Nations League Finals" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 June 2021 – via Twitter.
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