Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Julián Alvarez

Discover the career path of Julián Alvarez, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Julián Álvarez is an Argentine professional footballer. He plays as a forward. Currently, he plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Argentina national team. He is a talented and versatile player known for his goal-scoring ability and contribution to both club and country.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2016: Joined River Plate

In 2016, Julián Alvarez joined River Plate from Atlético Calchín, marking a step forward in his youth career.

October 2018: Professional Debut

On October 27, 2018, Julián Alvarez made his professional debut for River Plate in a Primera División match against Aldosivi.

2018: Argentina U-20s Training

In 2018, Alvarez was selected by the Argentina U-20s to train against the senior team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

2018: Copa Libertadores Finals Appearance

In 2018, Julián Alvarez appeared late in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores finals, where River Plate beat Boca Juniors.

2018: First-Team Debut for River Plate

In 2018, Julián Alvarez made his first-team debut for River Plate, marking the beginning of his professional career.

March 2019: First Senior Career Goal

On March 17, 2019, Julián Alvarez scored the first goal of his senior career in a 3–0 league win over Independiente.

May 2019: FIFA U-20 World Cup

In May 2019, Julián Alvarez participated in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, earning four caps and scoring one goal against South Africa.

2019: FIFA U-20 World Cup

In 2019, Julián Alvarez competed in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, representing Argentina at the youth level.

2020: Copa Libertadores Goals

In 2020, Julián Alvarez netted five goals in six Copa Libertadores group stage encounters, showcasing his goal-scoring ability.

2020: CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament

In 2020, Julián Alvarez participated in the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament with Argentina's youth team.

June 2021: Argentina Senior Debut

On June 3, 2021, Julián Alvarez made his debut for the Argentina senior team in a World Cup qualifier against Chile.

2021: Senior International Debut and Copa América Win

In 2021, Julián Alvarez made his senior international debut for Argentina and won the Copa América.

January 2022: Signed with Manchester City

On January 31, 2022, Julián Alvarez signed for Manchester City on a five-and-a-half-year contract but remained at River Plate on loan until July.

March 2022: First International Goal

On March 29, 2022, Julián Alvarez scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw against Ecuador.

May 2022: Six Goals in Copa Libertadores Match

On May 25, 2022, Julián Alvarez scored six goals for River Plate in an 8–1 win over Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores, marking a remarkable individual performance.

November 2022: Included in World Cup Squad

In November 2022, Alvarez was included in Argentina's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

2022: Competitive Debut and Premier League Debut

In 2022, Alvarez made his competitive debut for Manchester City in the FA Community Shield against Liverpool, scoring his team's only goal, and his Premier League debut against West Ham United. He also scored his first two Premier League goals against Nottingham Forest and his first UEFA Champions League goal against Copenhagen.

2022: Signed by Manchester City

In 2022, Julián Alvarez was signed by Manchester City, marking a significant move in his career to a top-tier European club.

2022: Finalissima and FIFA World Cup win

In 2022, Julián Alvarez won the Finalissima and the FIFA World Cup with Argentina.

May 2023: Champions League Qualification and Premier League Title

In May 2023, Julián Alvarez scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and also scored the winning goal against Chelsea to win his first Premier League title.

2023: Increased Role and Ballon d'Or Nomination

In 2023, Julián Alvarez took on a more regular role with Manchester City, finishing 7th in the Ballon d'Or rankings. City also defeated Fluminense 4-0 to claim the FIFA Club World Cup title where Alvarez scored a brace and assisted to claim his first Club World Cup title and finish the tournament as top scorer, with his first goal being the fastest in the competition's history at 40 seconds.

2023: Role as Attacking Midfielder

In the 2023–24 season, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola used Alvarez as an attacking midfielder due to injuries of key players and Alvarez thrived in this role.

May 2024: 100th Appearance for City

On May 4, 2024, Julián Alvarez made his 100th appearance for Manchester City, scoring a late goal in a 5–1 league win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

August 2024: Signs for Atlético Madrid

In August 2024, Julián Alvarez signed with La Liga club Atlético Madrid for a reported €95 million and made his debut against Villarreal in a 2-2 draw.