2022 has passed and made way for 2023. As at each closing of the calendar, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has carried out a cadastral count of various personalities of international football, although this time they had a Chilean as the protagonist.

Defender Nicolás Díaz was one of the main performers at the IFFHS Awards. The current defender of Tijuana de México finished the year as the footballer with the most expulsions, which led him to have a negative and particular distinction.

The mark imposed by the national was four red cards a figure he shares with the Argentinian Nazareno Colombo, central defender of Defense and Justice. The difference is that Díaz has done it in far fewer games. While the former Palestinian player did it in 27 games, the quilmeño did it in 45 duels. This led to him being ranked by the IFFHS as the “toughest” player in the world.

All of Díaz’s expulsions were valid for Liga MX. The first reprimand came in March, notably in the defeat of Mazatlán, his former team, against Monterrey, 2-1. Three months later, the defender would find himself in the city of Tijuana, so the rest would defend the Xolos shirt.

In July 2022 and despite leaving his team with one player less, Tijuana managed to win 2-1 against Atlas. Díaz was ejected in the match remissions and his cast had no problem holding the result. It was the first with its new cast.

When he returns to the starting team, he will not have the same luck since he lost 3-1 against Toluca last August. Thanks to a goal from Chilean Jean Meneses, the Red Devils won 2-1. However, the defender saw the red card at 74′ and his team couldn’t do anything. It was his second consecutive expulsion . Finally, Toluca would score their third goal and widen the difference.

The 23-year-old defender was again handed a one-game ban. He returned to ownership in the next two games, but in the third he would be sent off once more . Santos Laguna opened the scoring on 56′ and nine minutes later Díaz received his second yellow card. With twelve remaining, the Verdiblancos would extend the gap and seal their victory.

Despite questions about his difficult game and constant sending offs, the defender has managed to cement himself as a fixed point in coach Ricardo Valiño’s stellar XI. . His defensive strength and versatility have allowed him to position himself both at left-back and in central defence.

The annotations were also underlined at the end of the year. At men’s level, Lionel Messi has established himself as the player who has scored the most goals at international level, taking into account clubs and national teams, with 22 goals . The Trans-Andean star scored four with Paris Saint-Germain and 18 with Albiceleste, beating team-mate Kylian Mbappé by just one goal. This is his third international top scorer title, having won it in 2011 and 2012.

Meanwhile, Samantha Kerr prevailed in women’s soccer. The Australian has scored 17 goals, 12 for her country and five for Chelsea. Gunner left Beth Mead and Ewa Pajor, who added 15 goals during the year.