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.

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)
2024Colo-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

Club career

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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

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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

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Club

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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

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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

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Chile U23

References

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  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
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