00:07Argentina are preparing for one final major tournament with an attack focused around the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel
00:16Messi.
00:17But the future is in safe hands, with a host of dynamic young forwards ready to lead the Alba Celeste
00:24into a new era.
00:25Franco Mastantoano is still a teenager.
00:29Alfecunda Buonanotte and Alejandro Garnaccio are not much older.
00:34But all three have already amassed plenty of top level experience.
00:41And while it may be some time before they stamp their mark on the international scene,
00:46Julian Alvarez will ensure a seamless transition between generations.
00:53Alvarez will be 26 when the World Cup comes around and has quietly amassed over 50 caps and an astonishing
01:01array of major honours.
01:03He is an extraordinary player. He is the best player we have and we have to take care of him.
01:08We are going to help him to get even better.
01:11Alvarez found the back of the net four times during World Cup qualification, matching his haul from the 2022 finals
01:18in Qatar.
01:20His versatility, pace and close control make him a coach's dream.
01:26Able to link up play, take the game on in wide areas and finish with confidence.
01:32His hard work off the ball is also often credited.
01:38His appetite for leading the press was perfected during a two-year spell at Manchester City,
01:43during which he celebrated the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble.
01:52Those successes came after Alvarez had already secured the major club trophies on offer in Argentina and South America at
02:00the beginning of his career with River Plate.
02:04Alvarez now applies his trade at Atletico Madrid under the coaching of countryman Diego Simeone.
02:14I felt like I needed a change in my professional career, a new challenge.
02:22And I think this is a club where I can get the tools and the space to become the best
02:27version of myself as a footballer.
02:32After studying the genius Messi for the first half of his career, Alvarez is ready to take over from a
02:39national hero and lead the line for Argentina.
02:45The 2026 World Cup will represent a changing of the guard for the Albi Celeste, but with such quality already
02:51embedded in the squad, the future looks bright.
02:55a little bit SMIC.
02:56It's too good
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