Julian Alvarez scored twice to send Argentina to the World Cup final last night, in the same year that he was linked with joining Newcastle United.
Lionel Scaloni’s side booked their place in Sunday’s final with a 3-0 win over Croatia, where they will take on either reigning champions France or surprise package Morocco.
It is Argentina’s second World Cup final in the past three tournaments, and Lionel Messi’s second chance to win football’s biggest prize. The first came in 2014, when his side lost 1-0 to Germany in the final in Brazil.
Now Messi has another chance to immortalise himself at the top of the game, and he is doing it alongside an emerging star who has enjoyed a sensational few weeks in Qatar.
Alvarez started the tournament on the bench for Argentina, but now he is the perfect partner for Messi up top. The duo combined brilliantly on Wednesday night, with their efforts allowing their nation to ease past Croatia.
Lionel Messi labels Julian Alvarez ‘extraordinary’
With a goal and two assists, Messi was given the man of the match award after the game. However, he thought it should have gone to his 22-year-old teammate.
“Every player did very well, but if I have to choose I would give this [Man of the Match] award to Julian Alvarez,” Messi said, as reported by Eurosport.
“He had an extraordinary game.”
Alvarez truly was extraordinary, and was involved in every goal. He won the penalty that Messi converted to give Argentina the lead. Then he produced a lung-busting run from his own half to double his country’s lead.
The second goal started with a little pass from Messi, but it was Alvarez who did all the hard work.
Messi and Alvarez combined again for goal number three, and this time it was the 35-year-old at his world class best. He twisted and turned and knocked millions of pounds off of Josko Gvardiol’s price tag before picking out Alvarez, who netted his second of the game and his fourth of the tournament.
The duo of Messi and Alvarez were unstoppable on Wednesday night, with one legend emerging while another conducts his last dance.
This is Alvarez’s first World Cup, and he has shown exactly why he is so highly rated. Manchester City are the lucky club who have got him, but it could have been Newcastle had things gone differently.
Newcastle wanted him in January
At the start of 2022, Newcastle were looking for reinforcements. Eddie Howe needed players to boost his survival mission, whilst also keeping an eye on talents for the future.
That was why Bruno Guimaraes arrived. He didn’t join with any Premier League experience, but he had the talent to make an immediate difference and will be with the club for years.
And the same would have been said for Alvarez if he had moved to St James’ Park.
At the start of the year, the striker was playing in Argentina for River Plate. But with European clubs circling and a relatively cheap buyout clause in his contract, a move away was imminent. And a newly ambitious Newcastle were in the mix to sign him.
Gazzetta Dello Sport claimed that the Magpies were going to make a ‘super offer’ for the youngster, as they looked to bring a rising star to Tyneside.
However, the report added that Alvarez wanted to join a top club. At the time, Newcastle were in the relegation zone and nowhere near being considered a ‘top club’.
Instead, he would join Manchester City for an initial £14million. After returning to River Plate on loan, Alvarez is now in the Premier League and acting as deputy to top scorer Erling Haaland.
Man City have two of the best young strikers in world football today, while Newcastle are left to wonder what might have been.
They will be wondering it even more if Alvarez becomes a World Cup winner on Sunday.
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