Given the little aim that some strikers have had after putting on the ‘tricolor’ shirt and the request of a country wanting to shout “goal”, a known face, one that many believed that it was already part of the past, dressed the Colombian National Team shirt again.
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At 39, with exotic hairstyle, painted nails, the Gucci glasses and the characteristic dance, Dayro Mauricio Moreno Galindo joined the training in Barranquilla under the direction of the Argentine strategist, Néstor Lorenzo, for the two final dates of the qualifiers to the 2026 World Cup.
His call has not gone unnoticed, generating a national debate among those who are in favor and against the call of the top scorer of Colombian football. “Is the time for a historical and experienced scorer or was it a simple symbolic gesture?” They wondered and Nestor Lorenzo revealed the answer.
Lorenzo’s bet for a scorer “On Fire”
The decision to summon Dayro Moreno – who will turn 40 on September 16 – was not fortuitous. The coach Néstor Lorenzo, known for his pragmatic vision, explained to the press that the call responded exclusively to the performance of the striker in the eleven Caldas.
“He made me change (mind) the matches he made in South American, against Hurricane. I thought it was the moment, sometimes one has strikers who are ‘on fire’those who are now very good are Córdoba and Suárez, as third”Nestor confessed.
Lorenzo’s words, in the mixed area before the media with transmission rights, accompanied how surprised the day scoring of Dayro, which has led him to be the top gunner of the continental contest with 8 annotations.
The election of Dayro, instead of younger talents such as Rafael Santos Borré or Jhon Jáder Durán – who was not summoned, apparently, by an injury – surprised many, especially for choosing a player who is close to serving 40, to continue yielding how he does in his position.
However, for Lorenzo, logic was simple: we must take advantage of the good moment of a player, added to the intelligence and good positioning that Moreno has. “I thought Dayro could come,” said the DT, who considered that the call is a “prize” and a “recognition” to the great moment that the striker crosses.
No promises, only work and experience
Despite the expectation generated by his return, Dayro Moreno knows that his place on the court is not guaranteed, so Lorenzo himself was responsible for making things clear to the striker, captain and reference of the eleven Caldas de Manizales.
“I said ‘you come with the illusion of a boy, with all the expectation and no expectation, no promise, but enjoy it and help the team in everything, even in the advice you can give'”the coach concluded. For the national team, which is played by its direct classification to the 2026 World Cup, Dayro’s experience can be as valuable as its goals.
His presence in the group could serve as a mentoring for younger players, having a role that goes beyond the game minutes. The Colombian National Team is prepared for two crucial games, first against Bolivia at home and then against Venezuela, where every detail counts.
The call of Dayro Moreno is undoubtedly a reminder that in football, performance and experience can open doors that many believed closed. After 802 games played so far, the “Vitamin” striker adds 367 goals so far, And with Colombia, he has played 31 matches, in which he marked 3 goals.
