Marcelo Díaz

Marcelo Díaz
Díaz with Audax Italiano in 2023
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Alfonso Díaz Rojas
Date of birth (1986-12-30) 30 December 1986
Place of birth Santiago, Chile
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Universidad de Chile
Number 21
Youth career
2002–2005 Universidad de Chile
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2012 Universidad de Chile 164 (4)
2010Deportes La Serena (loan) 13 (5)
2012–2015 Basel 58 (7)
2015 Hamburger SV 19 (1)
2016–2017 Celta Vigo 40 (1)
2017–2018 Pumas UNAM 31 (5)
2018–2021 Racing Club 36 (1)
2021–2022 Libertad 21 (0)
2023 Audax Italiano 21 (0)
2024– Universidad de Chile 43 (0)
International career
2005 Chile U20 7 (0)
2011–2025 Chile 62 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Chile
Winner Copa América 2015
Winner Copa América Centenario 2016
Runner-up FIFA Confederations Cup 2017
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 July 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 8 February 2025

Marcelo Alfonso Díaz Rojas (Spanish pronunciation: [maɾˈselo ˈði.as]; born 30 December 1986) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Liga de Primera club Universidad de Chile.

Díaz came through Universidad de Chile youth academy, and was promoted to the first team in 2004, when he was 18. Making over 150 appearances Díaz was an integral part of the team with the club that won five titles including three consecutive national championships and the 2011 Copa Sudamericana; the club's first international title. In 2012, he moved to Swiss side Basel, where he won two consecutive league titles, before moving to Hamburger SV in 2015.

Díaz has earned over 60 caps for Chile since his senior debut in 2011, and represented the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2015 Copa América, winning the latter while being named in the Team of the tournament.

Díaz has earned the nickname of "South American Xavi", as both of them have a great ball control capabilities and excellent passing skills. In June 2015, he scored a 91st minute free-kick goal that helped save Hamburger SV from its first ever relegation from the Bundesliga and is considered to be one of the most important goals in the club's 128-year history.