When 11-year-old Julian Alvarez was asked what his football dream was, he needed barely a second to reply. Fast forward 11 years and he has achieved it.
Alvarez is one of 16 Manchester City players representing their nations at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the latest in a line of Argentinian stars to light up both the Etihad Stadium and the world stage. The difference between Alvarez and the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez is that he is not of Lionel Messi's generation; when Alvarez was a child, Messi was already the best player in the world.
There's a video online - grainy footage and Club Atletico Calchin jersey verifying its authenticity - of an adolescent Alvarez saying that it's his dream to play in a World Cup. When asked who his idol was, the answer was Messi.
On Saturday, with Argentina starring down the barrel of a humiliating group stage exit, Alvarez came off the bench to make his second World Cup appearance. One minute later Messi scored to put La Albiceleste 1-0 up against Mexico in a must-win game, and Alvarez played his part.
As Argentina ponderously built up what looked like yet another dead-end attack, Alvarez made a diagonal run into the penalty area which occupied the two centre-backs. It wasn't exactly a darting run, but the movement was just enough to give Messi a few extra seconds and yards of space at the edge of the area to line up a shot that arrowed into the bottom corner of the goal.
As if that wasn't the stuff of dreams already, the images that will adorn the back pages of newspapers across the globe this morning will show Alvarez wheeling away in celebration alongside his idol. Such an iconic moment can only serve to send Alvarez's confidence skyrocketing, and that can only benefit City.
Alvarez has largely played second fiddle to Erling Haaland this season, but when he returns from the World Cup he will see plenty of game time in sky blue. As the month running up to mid-season pause showed, Haaland's fitness cannot necessarily be relied upon
Between 25 October and 9 November, Alvarez started six straight games for City as Haaland struggled with a foot problem. In some he impressed and in others he looked a little raw, although that perception might partially be down to the inevitable - and unfair - comparisons drawn between him and his Norwegian teammate.
There is no doubting Alvarez's ability and potential, but while Guardiola has insisted that both can play in the same side, it seems likely that more often than not Alvarez will be on the bench when Haaland is fit. When he does get a chance either as a substitute or when Haaland is unavailable, he has to draw on his confidence as well as natural ability to help City cope with the absence of a striker that has scored 23 goals in 18 games.
Even if Argentina don't go all the way in the World Cup - and judging by their performances against Saudi Arabia and Mexico, they won't - Alvarez will return to the Etihad Stadium having achieved his dream. That can only be a good thing for all concerned.
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