Julian Alvarez: The Inspiring World Cup and Copa America Winner

Julian Alvarez is one of the best young strikers in the world and a World Cup and Copa America winner, winning the treble with Man City in England.

Alvarez comes highly rated along with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic, Gift Orban and Rasmus Hojlund. Having won almost every trophy in football, the stage is set for the exciting talent to rewrite more footballing history.

Player Profile – Julian Alvarez

Julián Álvarez is an Argentine forward who plays for Manchester City and the Argentina national team. He began his football career at River Plate, making his first-team debut in 2018 and winning multiple titles, including the Copa Libertadores and Argentine Primera División in 2021.

Álvarez was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2021. In January 2022, he signed with Manchester City and played his debut season in 2022-23, achieving a continental treble.

Julian Álvarez has represented Argentina at various youth levels and participated in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament. He was part of the squads that won the 2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and 2024 Copa América.

His 2022 World Cup victory made him the first player to win the World Cup and a continental treble in the same season.  Alvarez is known as “la araña” (the spider) or “el hombre araña” (Spiderman) because of his Spiderman-like hand gesture during goal celebrations.

Player Profile Overview

Julian Alvarez’s Early Life and Background

Julián Álvarez was born on January 31, 2000, in Calchín, a small town in the Córdoba province of Argentina. Growing up in a close-knit family, he was the youngest of three brothers, with his siblings being Raphael and Agu.

His parents, Gustavo and Mariana Álvarez provided a nurturing environment that fostered his early interest in football. From a young age, Julián demonstrated a remarkable talent for the sport, often playing with his brothers and friends in local matches.

Alvarez’s football journey began in earnest at Club Atlético Calchín, where he played under the guidance of his first coach, Hugo Rafael Varas. Varas recognized Julián’s potential early on and played a significant role in shaping his skills and understanding of the game.

At the age of 11, Julián’s talent caught the attention of scouts, leading him to join the youth academy of Club Atlético River Plate, one of Argentina’s most prestigious football clubs. Moving to Buenos Aires to pursue his dreams was a significant step for Julián, marking the beginning of his professional career.

Julian Alvarez’s Playing Style and Strength

Julián Álvarez is a versatile, technically skilled, and tactically intelligent player who predominantly plays as a forward, he excels in various attacking roles, including as a striker, winger, or attacking midfielder.

Álvarez’s playing style is marked by his exceptional dribbling ability, quick acceleration, and agility, allowing him to manoeuvre through tight defences and create scoring opportunities.

A key aspect of Álvarez’s game is his sharp footballing IQ, enabling him to make intelligent runs, find pockets of space, and exploit defensive weaknesses. His vision and creativity in the final third are complemented by his precise passing and ability to link up play effectively.

Despite his relatively small stature, Álvarez possesses a keen sense of positioning and timing, which makes him a potent threat in aerial duels.

His work rate and tenacity are also notable, as he often contributes defensively, pressing opponents and tracking back to help his team regain possession.

Julian Alvarez’s Career Highlights

Julián Álvarez started his career with hometown side Atlético Calchín before leaving to join River Plate in 2016 and participated in the Generation Adidas Cup with the club’s youth teams.

Before signing with River Plate, Álvarez had trials with Boca Juniors and Real Madrid, where he scored twice in five games during a youth tournament. However, he couldn’t join Real Madrid due to age restrictions.

Julian Alvarez’s First Professional Goal

Julian Alvarez was promoted to River Plate’s senior squad during the 2018-19 season and made his professional debut on October 27, 2018, in a Primera División match against Aldosivi. He continued to impress for River Plate scoring his first senior goal in a 3–0 league win over Independiente.

In December 2019, Álvarez scored in the Copa Argentina Final against Central Córdoba, helping River Plate win 3–0 and secure the trophy. The Argentine striker continued to impress in the Copa Libertadores scoring six goals for River Plate in an 8–1 victory over Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores.

Signing for Manchester City and Winning the Continental Treble

Julián Álvarez signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League champions Manchester City for a transfer fee of approximately £14 million on January 31st 2022. The agreement included a provision for Álvarez to remain on loan at River Plate until July.

He was part of a new-look attack that included Phil Foden and Erling Haaland in Man City’s quest to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history supported by the exciting midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Rodri.

Premier League Debut

Julian Álvarez made his competitive debut for Manchester City and scored in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool in the FA Community Shield season opener for the 2022-23 Premier League season.

He made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a 2-0 win over West Ham United and scored his first two Premier League goals on August 31 in a 6-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.

The Argentine striker netted his first UEFA Champions League goal a 5-0 win over Copenhagen and he also scored in later stages of the in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, helping secure a spot in the final. Four days later, he scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Chelsea, clinching his first Premier League title.

To round off an impressive debut season, Julian Álvarez won the Champions League with Manchester City beating Inter Milan in the final, making him the first player in history to win the World Cup and a continental treble in the same season.

Julian Alvarez’ Second Premier League Title

Julián Álvarez started off the 2023-24 season in impressive fashion scoring the only goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United.

After injuries to Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, Álvarez became a regular starter, contributing significantly with four goal involvements in his next Premier League matches, including two assists in a 3-1 win over West Ham United.

He also kicked off his Champions League campaign with a brace in a 3-1 victory against Red Star Belgrade and the Manchester City forward was ranked 7th in the 2023 Ballon d’Or due to his impressive performances for club and country.

Winning the FIFA World Cup and Alvarez’s 100th Appearance

Julian Alvarez starred in the 2023 FIFA World Club Cup scoring twice and providing an assist in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Fluminense in the final. He won the Golden Boot at the competition and set the record for the fastest goal in the competition’s history at 40 seconds.

Álvarez celebrated his 100th appearance for City with a late goal in a 5-1 league victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Argentine forward helped Manchester City set a new record for consecutive Premier League titles in a row when they won the 2023-24 Premier League title.

He reached the 2023-24 FA Cup final where Man City lost to bitter rivals Manchester United 2-1 courtesy of their talented youngster Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho.

Julian Alvarez’s International Career

Julián Álvarez started his international career with the Argentine U20 youth side, he was chosen for the 2019 South American U-20 Championship. Alvarez scored only one goal in the competition but could not prevent Argentina losing in the final to Ecuador.

Their progress in the final meant Argentina qualified for the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland. He participated in the U-20 World Cup in Poland, where he scored once against South Africa.

After topping their group, Argentina lost to Mali on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Alvarez’s future Manchester City teammate Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot with 9 goals and South Korea’s Lee Kang-In won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Subsequently, he was called up for the Olympic team and played in the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament, helping Argentina win the tournament and scoring once against Venezuela.

Winning the World Cup with Argentina

Julián Álvarez made his senior debut for Argentina coming on as a substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Chile and scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw with Ecuador.

He was part of Argentina’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and Álvarez scored his first World Cup goal in a 2–0 win against Poland and added another in a 2–1 victory over Australia.

He scored twice in Argentina’s 3–0 semi-final win against Croatia, becoming the youngest player since Pelé to achieve such a feat. Alvarez contributed to Argentina’s World Cup victory, scoring in a 4–2 penalty shootout win over France after a 3–3 draw in extra time, overcoming a hattrick by Kylian Mbappe.

Copa America 2024

Julian Alvarez was part of the victorious Argentine squad that won the 2024 Copa America held in the USA. Alvarez scored in the opening match against Canada with Lautaro Martinez also scoring in the 2-0 victory,

He scored his second goal in the semifinals against Canada in another 2-0 victory, Alvarez finished the tournament with 2 goals along with the likes of Jonathan David, Darwin Nunez, Vini Jr., and Luis Diaz. Julian Alvarez started in the final as Argentina beat Ecuador courtesy of a Lauaro Martinez strike in extra time.

Comparison with Other Football Greats

Julián Álvarez’s playing style has drawn comparisons to several top forwards, with many likening him to Sergio Agüero and Carlos Tevez.

Álvarez shares Agüero’s sharpness in front of goal, intelligent movement, and ability to find spaces in the opposition’s defence. His knack for being in the right place at the right time and his clinical finishing are reminiscent of Agüero’s style during his peak years.

Additionally, Álvarez’s tenacity, work rate, and relentless pressing are similar to Carlos Tevez’s. Like Tevez, Álvarez is known for his aggressive approach, always chasing down defenders and making life difficult for the opposition.

Julian Alvarez’s Inspiration and Idols

Julián Álvarez draws significant inspiration from fellow Argentine football legends Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero. Growing up, Álvarez idolized these two players, who have had a profound impact on his career and playing style.

Lionel Messi, with his unparalleled skill, vision, and creativity, has been a major influence on Álvarez as well as Aguero who is known for his clinical finishing, movement off the ball, and knack for scoring crucial goals, has also inspired Álvarez.

Outside of Football

Outside of football, Julian enjoys spending time with friends and family and appreciating simple pleasures like beach soccer. He values gratitude and giving back, exemplified by his gesture of gifting a van to his first coach, Varas, as a token of appreciation.

While he has been linked to a few romantic interests, including TikToker Luciana Milessi and influencer Nati Jota, Julian keeps his personal life private.

Conclusion

Having started his career at River Plate, his impressive performances led to a move to Manchester City, where he quickly made an impact by securing a continental treble.

Álvarez’s success continued on the international stage with Argentina, where he played a pivotal role in their World Cup victory.

His achievements, including notable performances in both domestic and international tournaments, highlight his status as one of football’s rising stars and a player with a bright future ahead.