Julián Alvarez Is Proving That He’s More Than Second Fiddle | Jeff Rueter

Julián Alvarez has his detractors, but moreover they tin nary longer contradict he belongs astatine nan game’s highest levels. Still only 26, nan Argentinian striker has an awesome postulation of honors: 2 Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores, 2 Copa Américas, a pre-bloat Club World Cup. And ohio yeah, nan 2022 World Cup and 2023 Champions League, won wrong successful a half-year span.

He has been cardinal for galore of nan teams that won those titles, yet is often formed arsenic a supporting subordinate alternatively than a star. Those Premier Leagues and nan Champions League pinch Manchester City were much straight (and rightly) credited to Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri. When Argentina snapped their world drought pinch a Copa, a World Cup, and different Copa for bully measure, it was framed almost wholly successful nan discourse of Lionel Messi’s legacy.

Alvarez wasn’t conscionable on for nan thrust for those triumphs, though. When City yet won their first European title, nan striker trailed only Haaland successful nan team’s continental scoring chart. Argentina’s 3rd World Cup saw conscionable 2 players people aggregate goals: Messi (seven) and Alvarez (four).

In August 2024, Atlético Madrid shelled retired €95m to pry him from Pep Guardiola’s rotation. His wasn’t a swift acclimation to La Liga, scoring conscionable erstwhile successful his first six games and 3 times successful a twelve convention fixtures. Diego Simeone stuck by his compatriot, religion buoyed by beardown shape successful nan Copa Del Rey and their Champions League group.

From nan commencement of 2025, he’s looked worthy of nan lofty outlay and past some: 36 goals and 13 assists successful 69 games. He earned a spot connected La Liga’s squad of nan play past twelvemonth – his first individual accolade since leaving River Plate successful 2022.

At times, he has scored disfigured goals, which each awesome striker must amass successful their time. His latest strike, though, was a timely reminder of his method brilliance.

Late successful nan first half of Atléti’s Champions League quarter-final first limb against Barcelona, nan visitors were handed a dead-ball gift astir 25 yards from extremity aft Pau Cubarsí’s sending off. Alvarez loitered complete nan shot alongside Antoine Griezmann, who has converted 10 nonstop free kicks successful a storied Atléti tenure nearing its end.

The Barcelona wall lept successful unison. Goalkeeper Joan García timed a lunging dive to his left. It was each successful vain, and location Alvarez went, moving a spot aimlessly and waving his manus successful nan aerial to output further rapture from nan distant supporters.

Those fans person surely travel around. Alvarez has rounded retired his crippled nicely since leaving Guardiola’s system, a much earthy press-leader and a much instinctive subordinate successful possession. By and large, however, he’s sized up to beryllium his country’s second-best axenic striker, a little aggravated foil to Lautaro Martínez. A calf wounded kept nan Inter guardant retired of Argentina’s March friendlies, which saw Alvarez commencement some games and unfastened nan scoring successful a 5-0 rout of Zambia.

By measurement of his 4 goals successful Qatar, only six Argentinians person scored much often successful World Cup history. Despite this status, he’s an unpopular prime to triumph nan aureate footwear this summer: 14th successful nan field, level pinch Richarlison successful nan odds, and third-favorite among his ain nationalist team.

Why specified a disparity betwixt capacity and perception? It whitethorn beryllium a byproduct of his approach.

He isn’t a gregarious showman, nor an unprecedented diversion marvel. There’s undeniable guile astir him, some successful his clever reference of abstraction – pinch and without nan shot – and his tireless committedness to starring his team’s press. Some liken him Griezmann: a very bully 2nd striker, if your club’s head still uses nan role, but possibly not an perfect line-leader for a world power.

That whitethorn beryllium changing. Reports propose Alvarez is Barcelona’s astir coveted target arsenic they hole to switch Robert Lewandowski. It’s easy to spot why he’s their target; his willingness to play a much selfless type of striker would dovetail good pinch nan gaggle of stars astatine Hansi Flick’s call. He does much thankless activity than nan Polish legend, and much regular work could get Alvarez’s goalscoring output a spot person to nan incumbent’s.

To their credit, Atléti haven’t taken lightly to nan proposal of losing Alvarez. Club president Enrique Cerezo was as emphatic arsenic he was colorful successful defending nan club’s power of nan striker. Considering Alvarez wasn’t terribly muted astir celebrating his opener astatine Camp Nou, 1 would deliberation he’s beautiful happy. And why wouldn’t he be? Alvarez has rounded retired a world-class blend: a chameleon who tin complement prima teammates while uncovering his ain looks, capable aggregate roles successful nan last third, and play pinch nan joyousness that endears fans for a lifetime.