Damián Pizarro

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pizarro and the second or maternal family name is Huenuqueo.

Damián Pizarro
Pizarro with Colo-Colo in 2023
Personal information
Full name Damián Nicolás Pizarro Huenuqueo[1]
Date of birth (2005-03-28) 28 March 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Santiago, Chile[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Udinese
Number 99
Youth career
Universidad de Chile
2020–2021 Colo-Colo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Colo-Colo 23 (6)
2024– Udinese 0 (0)
2024 → Colo-Colo (loan) 13 (5)
International career‡
2023– Chile U23 9 (0)
2023– Chile 1 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Chile
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2023 Santiago Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 July 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2024

Damián Nicolás Pizarro Huenuqueo (born 28 March 2005) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Italian Serie A club Udinese and the Chile national team.

Club career

Pizarro began his career in the academy of Universidad de Chile, moving away from his family home to focus on his career.[2] Having scored two goals against them in a 3–3 draw at youth level, Colo-Colo youth manager Ariel Paolorossi invited Pizarro for a trial with the club, and after only ten minutes of watching him play, decided to sign him, with the forward joining the club in 2020.[3]

After Colo-Colo had sixty-two players sent to quarantine due to COVID-19, Pizarro made his debut in a 2–0 away loss to Audax Italiano on 28 October 2021.[4] Despite the loss, Pizarro's performance was lauded by Chilean media.[5][6] He would have to wait until 2023 for his next appearance with the club; with first-choice striker Leandro Benegas injured, Pizarro took his place, scoring Colo-Colo's only goal in a 3–1 loss to Cobresal on 18 March.[7]

Following good performances in his first few games for Colo-Colo, he was praised by manager Gustavo Quinteros, who said that he had "no ceiling" regarding his potential.[8] He established himself as a starter in the team, and his performances continued to draw acclaim, most notably in the 2–0 home loss to Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores.[9][10][11]

However, despite the bright start, Pizarro was unable to add to his goal tally for the next eight games, with manager Quinteros moving him to the right-wing during an eventual 2–1 win against Audax Italiano, allowing Carlos Palacios to take his position up front.[12] However, teammate César Fuentes came out in support of Pizarro, stating that he would "regain his confidence".[13]

In January 2024, Pizarro signed with the Italian club Udinese, staying on loan with Colo-Colo for the first half of the year.[14] In July of the same year, he joined the Udinese squad.[15]

International career

In May 2023, Chile national team manager Eduardo Berizzo personally attended the match between Unión Española and Colo-Colo to scout Pizarro ahead of national team friendlies against Cuba and the Dominican Republic.[16]

He was included in the final squad for the 2023 Pan American Games,[17][18] where Chile won the silver medal.[19]

In 2024, he took part in the Pre-Olympic Tournament.[20]

At senior level, he received his first call up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Colombia in September 2023[21] and made his debut against Paraguay on 16 November 2023 as a starting player.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 June 2024[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colo-Colo 2021 Chilean Primera División 1 0 — — — 1 0
2023 22 6 7 1 8[a] 0 0 0 37 7
2024 13 5 0 0 7[b] 0 0 0 20 5
Career total 36 11 7 1 15 0 0 0 58 12
  1. ^ Six appearances in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
  2. ^ Appearances in Copa Libertadores

International

As of match played 17 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Chile 2023 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Chile U23

References

  1. ^ a b c Damián Pizarro at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Rubio, Jorge (21 April 2023). "Damián Pizarro, el delantero que llegó de la U a Colo Colo para "ser el mejor del mundo"" [Damián Pizarro, the striker who came from the U to Colo Colo to "be the best in the world"]. redgol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. ^ Vega, Diego (29 October 2021). "Estaba en la U y pidió una prueba en Colo Colo: el '9' que debutó y fue figura ante Audax Italiano" [He was in the U and asked for a test in Colo Colo: the '9' who made his debut and was a figure against Audax Italiano]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ Navarro, Nicolás (29 October 2021). "Pasó de la Universidad de Chile a Colo Colo: Jefe de cadetes reveló cómo Damián Pizarro llegó al Cacique y terminó siendo figura" [He went from the University of Chile to Colo Colo: Head of cadets revealed how Damián Pizarro got to the Cacique and ended up being a figure]. bolavip.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ Huerta, Rodrigo (28 October 2021). "Los cuatro valores de Colo Colo que dejaron una imagen positiva" [The four values of Colo-Colo that left a positive image]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Cristian Basaure escogió al más destacado de la patrulla juvenil alba: Damián Pizarro" [Cristian Basaure chose the most outstanding of the Alba youth patrol: Damián Pizarro]. tntsports.cl (in Spanish). 29 October 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  7. ^ Viluñir Silva, JP (19 March 2023). ""Uno de mis sueños cumplidos": la alegría de Damián Pizarro tras su primer gol en Colo Colo" ["One of my dreams come true": the joy of Damián Pizarro after his first goal in Colo Colo]. redgol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. ^ Vera, Pablo (1 April 2023). ""Interferencias": el consejo de Quinteros a Damián Pizarro" ["Interferences": Quinteros' advice to Damián Pizarro]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. ^ Madariaga, Carlos (30 March 2023). "Damián Pizarro se perfila como titular en Colo Colo para visitar a Huachipato" [Damián Pizarro is emerging as a starter in Colo Colo to visit Huachipato]. adnradio.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  10. ^ Morales, Italo (4 May 2023). "Damián Pizarro conquista a todos: esto dijo un crack chileno sobre él" [Damián Pizarro conquers everyone: this was said by a Chilean star about him]. chile.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. ^ Echagüe, Patricio (4 May 2023). "Jorge Valdivia aplaude el rendimiento de Damián Pizarro ante Boca: "Este partido lo sitúa en otro status"" [Jorge Valdivia applauds Damián Pizarro's performance against Boca: "This game places him in another status"]. redgol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ Rojas, Santiago (9 May 2023). "Gustavo Quinteros pierde la paciencia con Damián Pizarro, esto lo demuestra" [Gustavo Quinteros loses patience with Damián Pizarro, this shows it]. elfutbolero.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  13. ^ Guarello, Rodrigo (13 May 2023). "Apoyan completamente a Damián Pizarro de Colo Colo a pesar de su falta de gol" [They fully support Colo Colo's Damián Pizarro despite his lack of goal]. camarin.cl (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Mosa confirmó la partida de Damián Pizarro a Italia tras el partido con Copiapó". Radio Cooperativa (in Spanish). 27 May 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024. hay una cláusula que no nos permite hacer una ampliación de su préstamo.
  15. ^ González, Christian (2 July 2024). "Udinese anuncia el arribo de Damián Pizarro, el fichaje que revivió las disputas en Colo Colo". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024. El club italiano lo había adquirido en enero, pero le había permitido quedarse en Colo Colo hasta el cierre de la primera rueda.
  16. ^ Concha, Julián (13 May 2023). "¿Presente y futuro?: Berizzo asiste a duelo entre Unión Española y Colo Colo para observar a Damián Pizarro" [Present and future?: Berizzo attends a duel between Unión Española and Colo Colo to observe Damián Pizarro]. latercera.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Team roster CHI - Chile" (PDF). Santiago2023.org. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Individual Statistics" (PDF). Santiago2023.org. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Medallists" (PDF). Santiago2023.org. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  20. ^ "La Roja Sub 23 presentó la nómina definitiva para el Preolímpico". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  21. ^ "La nómina de La Roja para los duelos ante Uruguay y Colombia por las clasificatorias al mundial de 2026". www.t13.cl (in Spanish). Canal 13. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  22. ^ Ortega, Pablo (19 November 2023). "La mayor misión de Córdova". AS Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  23. ^ Damián Pizarro at Soccerway