00:02Argentina are preparing for one final major tournament with an attack focused around the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel
00:11Messi.
00:12But the future is in safe hands, with a host of dynamic young forwards ready to lead the Alba Celeste
00:19into a new era.
00:20Franco Mastantoano is still a teenager, Malfacunda Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnaccio are not much older.
00:29But all three have already amassed plenty of top level experience.
00:36And while it may be some time before they stamp their mark on the international scene, Julian Alvarez will ensure
00:43a seamless transition between generations.
00:48Alvarez will be 26 when the World Cup comes around and has quietly amassed over 50 caps and an astonishing
00:56array of major honours.
00:58He is an extraordinary player. He is the best player we have and we have to take care of him.
01:03We are going to help him to get even better.
01:06Alvarez found the back of the net four times during World Cup qualification, matching his haul from the 2022 finals
01:13in Qatar.
01:15His versatility, pace and close control make him a coach's dream.
01:21Able to link up play, take the game on in wide areas and finish with confidence.
01:27His hard work off the ball is also often credited.
01:33His appetite for leading the press was perfected during a two-year spell at Manchester City, during which he celebrated
01:40the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble.
01:47Those successes came after Alvarez had already secured the major club trophies on offer in Argentina and South America at
01:55the beginning of his career with River Plate.
01:59Alvarez now applies his trade as Atletico Madrid under the coaching of countryman Diego Simeone.
02:09I felt like I needed a change in my professional career, a new challenge and I think this is a
02:19club where I can get the tools and the space to become the best version of myself as a footballer.
02:28After studying the genius Messi for the first half of his career, Alvarez is ready to take over from the
02:34national hero and lead the line for Argentina.
02:40The 2026 World Cup will represent a changing of the guard for the Albi Celeste, but with such quality already
02:46embedded in the squad, the future looks bright.
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