Zoe Díaz, chosen as the best junior player in the world

Not even in her remotest dreams could Zoe Díaz have imagined that she would be receiving the highest recognition as the best under-21 player in the world.not because she believes it to be impossible, but because of the circumstances in which the 18-year-old girl lives her days as if there were no tomorrow and that makes her get the most out of every moment to squeeze.

November 8, 2024 will not be another day in your lifenor for those who accompany her, because although the skills she wields on the court were public knowledge, for years it has not been new, in Bajo Flores, where she performs regularly, the magic that she gives off every Saturday with the jersey of the Italian Club that was the one that elevated her to receiving this type of award.

In a close votethe youngest medalist in Argentine history, won with 35.90% of the votes, followed by Tan Jinzhuang with 29.20% and became a new Lioness distinguished with this recognition. The last one had been Lucina Von der Heydein 2018. Before that it was Majo Granattoin 2017 and in 2016. Behind her, Florence Habif in 2014 and the first was Sole Garciawho achieved it in 2002 and 2004.

Zoe He burst onto the sports scene in 2023, when during his first junior process he captivated everyone and everyone, due to his audacity when it came to doing what he enjoys so much, which is playing hockey. Since the World Cup in her category, held in Chile in December, her career catapulted meteorically when she was summoned to start 2024 with Las Leonas and later demonstrate his fearlessness in the Pro League to take the ball, take decisive penalties and continue.

In July of the current yearwhen there was little left for Fernando Ferrara to deliver the final list of Las Leonas that would travel to Paris, Díaz de Armas entered as the smallest of the team and also of the Argentine delegation. The city of lights witnessed the thousands of spotlights that landed on its number 33, which was not supposed to shine brighter than a star, but the simple fact of providing spontaneity and dynamism in structured moments without much rhythm. Zoe is not afraid to face contexts, she embraces them without pretexts, in search of continuing to grow and learning to be a better person and athlete, in her own way – so unique and hers – of always trying to give everything of herself to reveal, in its interim, places that Argentina has not reached and still has to discover.