Exclusive interview with Julian Alvarez: Man City’s prolific trophy-winner discusses his ideal year, his World Cup triumph with “idol” Lionel Messi, and why Pep Guardiola’s relentless team isn’t content with the treble victory from the previous season.
The striker talks candidly about playing for the Albiceleste with his childhood idol and his successful collaboration with Erling Haaland.
The title of the Premier League? Check. FA Cup? Check. The Champions League? Check. The Copa Libertadores, its equivalent in South America? Additionally, check. What about international championships? Yes, he also has the Copa America, Argentina’s first big prize in twenty-eight years, and the World Cup in 2022, the crown jewel. Not to mention the Copa Argentina, Supercopa, Argentine Primera Division, Finalissima, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Copa Argentina.
With 14 championships for both club and country to his name, Julian Alvarez’s record of accomplishments is simply incredible. Most players would be lucky to win that much hardware throughout their careers. The striker for Manchester City and Argentina is frightening since he is only 24 years old.
In a span of 12 intense months, Alvarez won the biggest accolades. He scored four goals in the exciting victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final, which marked the start of his incredible trophy pursuit. After that, he assisted City in winning the FA Cup, the Premier League for a record third time, and the Champions League for the first time, making them the first English team to accomplish the triple crown since rival Manchester United in 1999.
The adventure came to an end a year later, when City defeated Fluminense 4-0 in the Saudi Arabian Club World Cup final. Alvarez scored the game’s first and last goal and was awarded Man of the Match. However, Alvarez is not satisfied, so it is far from over yet.
He really has his sights set on achieving a triple this season, and he is confident that City can do it. “Yes, obviously, I think we can,” Alvarez says in a special interview. “In the final few months of the season, we’re fighting for all the competitions; we’re good as a group, and I think we can do it.”
Guardiola would be delighted to hear the striker’s comments since the ever-demanding Catalan is eager for more success and hasn’t indicated that he plans to quit City anytime soon. Despite all of their accomplishments, Alvarez is aware that Guardiola will not allow him and his teammates to sit back and enjoy themselves, and he is adamant that the group has the same hunger for victory as their coach.
Alvarez has improved in his second season and is now an essential part of the City squad, playing a key role in Guardiola’s plans and no longer just a backup. Only Kyle Walker, the captain, has played more minutes than him in Premier League games. He has started every game. He has 13 goals, second only to Haaland as City’s leading scorer, and seven assists to his name. He and the Norwegian have formed a very lucrative ‘small and huge’ collaboration.
“I always think that you become a better player by playing with the top players. Among them is Erling. I’m extremely glad and proud of it because playing with the greatest players helps you progress. There are a lot of important, elite players on the squad that have been achieving great things for their clubs and national teams for a long time,” he adds.
“I think that we have demonstrated that together we can do very good things to help the team; you can see it on the pitch, but the statistics show it too in terms of goals and assists.”
Although Haaland and Alvarez were born in the same year, Lionel Messi had already won the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or when ‘La Arana’ was just nine years old. A video shows a young Alvarez praising Messi as his hero. When Messi was in the Argentina Under-23 squad and the senior team was getting ready for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Alvarez’s first encounter with the player at the training camp was a real dream come true.
After four years, the two were teaming up for their nation in Qatar, where they struck up a disastrous alliance that ultimately resulted in Argentina winning the World Cup. “When I was growing up, he was my idol, and I remember in the training sessions, first in sparring sessions with the senior team, I asked him for a photo, and then when I went to the senior team, I got another point of view,” Alvarez recalls of Messi.
“Playing with him is crazy, but it’s also really nice, and I try to enjoy every second of it.” I’m really happy with what the national team has accomplished thus far and with the outcome he finally found after much research.” Alvarez sees no reason why Argentina cannot experience greater success at the Copa America later this year, similar to what happened with City. “Obviously, we’re going to try and do it again,” he says.
Additionally, he expects that Messi will captain the squad in the United States and in the United States, Mexico, and Canada at the 2026 World Cup. “It will depend on him, but I think if he wants to, he can do it comfortably,” he states. Both the query and the response to it are apparent. “We all want him to continue as well.”
The most productive matchup between Messi and Alvarez came in the World Cup semifinal, as they both helped the team to an incredible 3-0 victory over Croatia. Messi scored Argentina’s first goal with a penalty kick that Alvarez earned, and the City forward scored the second goal with a brilliant solo move from his own half that was reminiscent of Diego Maradona’s famous goal against England but with more scraps.
Argentina’s position in the final was guaranteed when Messi supplied Alvarez for another goal, capping off an incredible display. Alvarez, therefore, has to grin whenever the game is brought up.
Reaching the final, where I scored two goals and earned a penalty, makes it one of the most memorable games of my career. It was an amazing contest and a great experience, made even more amazing by the fact that we went on to win the World Cup.” And what about Buenos Aires, where two million people are said to have gathered to welcome back their heroes?
Furthermore amazing. It was a beautiful experience to return to Argentina and see everyone waiting for us. The streets were filled, and everyone was ecstatic—it was just what the nation needed.”
Alvarez led City to a resounding victory over Fluminense at the age of 23, securing his club championship after being a world champion with his nation at the age of 22. He said that he had been driven by a sense of unresolved business since River Plate had not advanced to the final of the 2018 Club World Cup.
“Since we were unable to win in 2018, I saw it as a chance for retaliation and a championship that City was lacking. It was wonderful to do it in the championship game and assist the squad with two goals; it was momentous for the club and something we’ll never forget,” he remarks.
When the enlarged Club World Cup is held in the United States in 2025, City will be back on the international scene. There’s a high possibility he’ll have an emotional reunion with River Plate, who will be one of the South American participants. Would he want to confront them, though? Alvarez replies right away, using the same phrase he used frequently in the interview: “Obviously.”
He continues: “As a fan, I wish River all the best, and I always hope they do well, so it would be great for us to be there too.” A cursory examination of Alvarez’s professional history suggests that the ideal reunion is quite likely to occur. He has often gotten what he desired and much more.
