Luis Sinisterra is considered one of the best Colombian footballers and is seen as a rising star in Europe, but it’s only in the last couple of years that major clubs across the continent have started to notice him.
Despite his young age, he’s played in Europe since 2018, but the lack of attention he’s attracted in that time is not because he’s not been good enough. Since his arrival, he has played only in the Dutch league, which is considered less attractive than others.
Last year, however, came his excellent UEFA Conference League campaign, when he took a massive step up.
Premier League side Leeds United took notice and snapped up the young Colombian, and since day one has shown his ability on the biggest stage.
Luis Sinisterra was born on June 17th 1999 in Santander de Quilichao, a small municipality located in west Colombia.
The place suffered from major violence throughout Sinisterra’s childhood.
When he was 8 years old, guerilla forces took over the area. The player spent days stuck at his dad’s place of work, and couldn’t get out. “It was very scary,” he said.
His first steps in football came at an amateur level, with teams like Boca Juniors de Cali and Colo Colo de Caloto, but in 2015 moved to mid-table side Once Caldas.
There was stiff competition, with “200 kids at trials that day, but the 15 minutes that I played there was enough for me to make it to the team", he said.
He made his senior debut in 2016, and during two years, he played in 47 matches, scoring six goals and assisting four more.
And over these two years he really caught the eye with his talent, skill, and ability to leave defenders behind.
It was enough for Feyenoord to spend €2 million (£1.73m) for 80% of his rights.
The start of his European career was by the book, spending a lot of time coming off the bench in his first season.
It can often be hard for South American players coming to Europe to adjust to the different lifestyle and type of football, but Sinisterra was helped by his coach, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, speaking Spanish.
He consistently improved and was later chosen as Feyenoord's player of the month, player of the season, and the best young foreigner in the Eredivisie.
Sinisterra was clearly on the fast track to succeed. He was picked for Colombia’s U20 squad for the 2019 World Cup in Poland, scoring two goals in five matches before his side was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
That was enough to impress Carlos Queiroz, the senior team’s coach at the time, who called him up for the national team’s friendlies against Algeria and Chile.
A serious injury in February 2020, however, stopped everything for him. Ten months away from the football pitch followed. Fortunately, for Sinisterra at least, the pandemic stopped leagues worldwide, giving him the opportunity to recover without losing his spot in the starting lineup.
A year ago was his best season yet - 12 goals in 30 Eredivisie matches, and an impressive Europa Conference League campaign that saw Feyenoord heading to the final. The young Colombian scored 11 goals in just 18 matches in that competition.
When you ask him who his role model is, he answers straight away - Juan Cuadrado.
Unlike his compatriot, Sinisterra plays on the left, just like Liverpool’s Luis Diaz - a fellow Colombian who is also lighting up the Premier League.
He’s got pace and speed, he dribbles and feints to give his opponents a tough time. He can create chances for himself and his teammates, and can take aim from a long distance. He is a winger who sacrifices, plays on both sides of the pitch, and can score and assist.
In July 2022, Leeds United announced Sinisterra as a replacement for Raphinha, paying £20m for the Colombian.
In the first six matches of the new season, he has scored three goals and assisted once.
His style of play has drawn comparisons with Luis Diaz, and both players will compete both in England, and for a spot in the national team - a welcome headache for new head coach Nestor Lorenzo.
They both play in the same position, but September’s international break showed that they can play together.
Sinisterra was Colombia’s best player, scoring in their 4-1 demolition of Guatemala. He was also pivotal in his side’s comeback against Mexico - scoring two goals in their 3-2 win.
In both cases, it was Diaz on the left, and Sinisterra on the right. With wingers like this, Lorenzo can relax.
As for Leeds, a team many picked to struggle this season, Sinisterra is proving to be a real ray of optimism. If he can carry on this good run of form, then anything is possible.
Edited by Alex Smith
Photo by Leeds United official Twitter account
