Julián Álvarez takes off to score goals in the Cup as Messi’s partner

Scorer of two goals in the 3-0 victory over Croatia that put Argentina in the final of the Qatar Cup, Julián Álvarez, 22, lives a dream Cup.

The young striker arrived at the World Cup with three goals for Argentina’s senior team. After five games, the number more than doubled. It’s already seven.

It’s hard to believe that he could have imagined, before the start of the World Cup, the situation he finds himself in now, being the second best player in the national team, behind only superstar Lionel Messi.

Reserve for the very popular Norwegian Erling Haaland at his club, Manchester City, Álvarez arrived at the World Cup also in reserve, for Lautaro Martínez, 25, Inter Milan’s top scorer, and remained so in the first two games —defeat against Saudi Arabia and victory over the Mexico.

He played close to half an hour in each of these clashes and in the decisive third group stage match against Poland, he earned the chance to start, largely due to poor performances by Lautaro.

It didn’t disappoint. In a very difficult game, he relieved Argentina by scoring the team’s second goal in the middle of the final stage, which ensured a 2-0 victory and qualification for the knockout stages.

He shone again in the round of 16, when he scored Argentina’s second goal again, fundamental in the 2-1 victory over Australia.

The number 9 remained in the starting lineup against the Netherlands and experienced moments of distress, perhaps despair, in the quarterfinals.

Not because he didn’t score this time, but because, substituted with a 2-0 advantage in the 37th minute of the second half, he saw Holland reduce a minute later and equalize in stoppage time. From the bench, he suffered in overtime and in the penalty shootout.

Against Croatia, Brazil’s executioner in the Cup, he contributed decisively to the Argentines not to go through suffocation again.

Now with Argentina ahead –Messi had scored from the penalty spot– he took the ball in the backfield, advanced decisively, shared with defenders and only stopped when he managed to kick the ball into the net.

“The feeling is that we deserve it, it’s a great joy for all of us. Now we’re going to rest for the final”, said the striker after the game. He even scored Argentina’s third.

“In my family they must all be crazy, as I imagine across the country. We’re going to try to go all the way,” said the player, who was called “spider” as a child because he looked like he had more than two legs when he played.

The numbers and performance in Qatar should change his level on his return to Manchester City and prove that coach Pep Guardiola’s endorsement for the investment of 21 million euros (R$ 117.6 million) in his signing from River Plate, this year, it was worth it.