Diego Ferney Chará Zamora

Diego Chará arrived at Portland Timbers in April 2011 as the club's first Designated Player.

Chará's path started far from MLS. He came through the academy at Boca Juniors de Cali before turning professional in 2004 with Deportes Quindío, where he spent four seasons. Spells at América de Cali and Deportes Tolima followed, and it was from Tolima that Portland signed him in 2011.

His international career was brief. Chará was called up to the Colombian national team in 2010 and 2011, making his debut in a friendly against Peru before featuring in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia. He later returned to the squad for the 2019 Copa América, where he played the closing minutes of Colombia's final match at the tournament.

At club level, Chará's contribution has been measured less in goals — he has scored sparingly across his career — and more in consistency. He was part of the Portland side that won the MLS Cup in 2015, and again featured when the Timbers took the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020.