00:06Argentina are preparing for one final major tournament with an attack focused around the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel
00:14Messi.
00:16But the future is in safe hands, with a host of dynamic young forwards ready to lead the Alba Celeste
00:22into a new era.
00:24Franco Mastantoana is still a teenager. Alfecunda Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnaccio are not much older.
00:32But all three have already amassed plenty of top level experience.
00:40And while it may be some time before they stamp their mark on the international scene, Julian Alvarez will ensure
00:46a seamless transition between generations.
00:52Alvarez will be 26 when the World Cup comes around and has quietly amassed over 50 caps and an astonishing
00:59array of major honours.
01:01He is an extraordinary player. He is the best player we have and we have to take care of him.
01:06We are going to help him to get even better.
01:09Alvarez found the back of the net four times during World Cup qualification, matching his haul from the 2022 finals
01:16in Qatar.
01:18His versatility, pace and close control make him a coach's dream. Able to link up play, take the game on
01:27in wide areas and finish with confidence.
01:30His hard work off the ball is also often credited. His appetite for leading the press was perfected during a
01:39two year spell at Manchester City, during which he celebrated the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League
01:48treble.
01:50Those successes came after Alvarez had already secured the major club trophies on offer in Argentina and South America at
01:58the beginning of his career with River Plate.
02:03Alvarez now applies his trade at Atletico Madrid under the coaching of countryman Diego Simeone.
02:13I felt like I needed a change in my professional career, a new challenge.
02:21And I think this is a club where I can get the tools and the space to become the best
02:25version of myself as a footballer.
02:31After studying the genius Messi for the first half of his career, Alvarez is ready to take over from the
02:37national hero and lead the line for Argentina.
02:43The 2026 World Cup will represent a changing of the guard for the Albi Celeste, but with such quality already
02:50embedded in the squad, the future looks bright.
02:53The 232 World Cup
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