Luis Diaz for the Ballon d’Or? Europe’s signing of the season has the big-game pedigree to lead Bayern Munich to Champions League glory – and carry Colombia deep into the World Cup

So, for all of the hard-earned and well-deserved Ballon d’Or buzz surrounding Harry Kane and Michael OliseDiaz could easily emerge as Bayern’s leading candidate if they were to go on and win the Champions League, having developed quite the habit for producing a piece of individual brilliance when it’s been needed most.

Granted, both Kane and Olise are likely to go further at this summer’s World Cup, with their respective nations, England and France, among the favourites to lift the trophy. However, Colombia are almost certain to come out of a group containing Uzbekistan and DR Congo, and will be quietly confident of pipping Portugal to top spot – not least because they’re going to be backed by a massive following in both the United States and Mexico.

Diaz is also his country’s talisman – only Lionel Messi scored more goals in CONMEBOL qualifying – and while Los Cafeteros might not get beyond the quarter-finals, it would hardly be a shock if the 29-year-old replicated the kind of magical campaign with which compatriot James Rodriguez wowed the world at Brazil 2014. The conditions should certainly suit him and, right now, Diaz is in the form of his life.

Obviously, when it comes to the Ballon d’Or, the odds are definitely against him. The prize will likely go to a World Cup winner, but Diaz certainly can’t be discounted. He’s already proven himself one of the signings of the season and, as Kompany has discovered to his immense joy, producing the unexpected is just one of the Colombian’s many qualities.