Julian Alvarez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atletico Madrid and the Argentina National team. Born on 31 January 2026, La Arana has previously played for River Plate before transferring to Manchester City. Julian has won major honours, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa America.
Having played for two seasons in the English Premier League, Julian Alvarez made 103 appearances, 36 goals and 17 assists. The 26-year-old footballer recently signed a six-year contract with Atlético Madrid running till June 2030. Explore Julian’s early life, soccer journey & playing style, his achievements, and all his upcoming news only on SportPesa.
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Julián Alvarez player profile
| Profile Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Julián Álvarez |
| Nickname | La Araña (The Spider) |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Date of Birth | 31 January 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Calchín, Córdoba, Argentina |
| Age | 26 years |
| Position | Forward |
| Playing Style | Versatile forward, striker and attacking player |
| Height | 170 cm |
| Weight | 71 kg |
| Current Club | Atlético Madrid |
| Squad Number | 19 |
| Previous Club | Manchester City |
| Youth Club | River Plate |
| Senior Debut | River Plate |
| River Plate Period | 2018–2022 |
| Manchester City Period | 2022–2024 |
| Atlético Madrid Period | 2024–present |
| National Team | Argentina |
| International Debut | 2021 |
| Major International Honours | 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2024 Copa América |
| Major Club Honours | Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup |
| Manchester City Appearances | 103 |
| Manchester City Goals | 36 |
| Manchester City Assists | 17 |
| Manchester City Trophies | 6 major honours |
Read Also: 2026/27 UEFA Champions League: Qualified teams, format, key dates and teams to watch
Julián Alvarez’s early life
Julian Alvarez’s biography begins in his birthplace, Calchin, Argentina, on 31 January 2000. Julian grew up alongside his two brothers, Rafael and Agustin, and attended a local school in his hometown, while spending his spare time refining his football skills. He began his career at Atletico Calchin, where he earned the nickname “El Aranita” for his goal-scoring ability. His official breakthrough came in 2016 when he joined River Plate youth academy. In 2028, Julian made his professional senior debut, launching a career that has become historic.
Julián Alvarez’s club career journey
River Plate
Julián Álvarez was recruited as a teenager to River Plate’s youth system and, through his development, progressed in the tree of talents at River. His first appearance for the team in his senior year was in 2018, and he was slowly earning his spot in the first team. Alvarez blossomed in a period with Marcelo Gallardo, hitting it out of the park, and biding his time for River Plate to bid for home and abroad. His goal art won him the interest of big clubs in Europe and earned him the label of one of Argentina’s best young forwards.
Manchester City
Alvarez had previously joined Manchester City from River Plate in January 2022, but was only allowed to remain at River Plate until July that year before joining the club. He soon made himself at home in English football and joined Pep Guardiola’s team. Alvarez went on to score 17 goals in 49 games for all City did during the 2022/23 season, while helping the team claim the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League trophies. He then went on to secure 13 assists and 19 goals in an impressive 54 appearances in the Premier League, teaming up with Díaz Cão in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, which again crowned the club champions.
Atlético Madrid
Alvarez joined Atlético Madrid from Manchester City in August 2024. The transfer was a new challenge for him, as he would have the chance to play a key role in Atlético’s attacking arsenal. He is versatile; he can be used as a striker or on the wings/backwards. It also transferred him to La Liga, where he would further his career as one of Europe’s best Argentine forwards.
Julián Alvarez’s international career
After making his way up through Argentina’s youth teams, Julián Alvarez made his senior debut in 2021. In 2022, he was a valuable player in the team that helped Argentina claim the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Also, Alvarez was part of the squad that won the 2024 Copa America. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while still playing for Argentina, he played in the finals, where they lost 1-0 to Spain.
Julián Alvarez Career Statistics
Julian has been a great attacker, taking part in the club leagues of Argentina, England and Spain. Throughout his career, Alvarez has netted 140 professional goals and 65 career assists. The table below shows Julian Alvarez’s career stats.
Club career
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2018 | River Plate | All competitions | 17 | 3 | — |
| 2019 | River Plate | All competitions | 22 | 4 | — |
| 2020 | River Plate | All competitions | 26 | 5 | — |
| 2021 | River Plate | All competitions | 46 | 24 | — |
| 2022 | River Plate | All competitions | 17 | 5 | — |
| 2022/23 | Manchester City | All competitions | 49 | 17 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | Manchester City | All competitions | 54 | 19 | 11 |
| 2024/25 | Atlético Madrid | All competitions | 57 | 29 | 7 |
| 2025/26 | Atlético Madrid | All competitions | 49 | 20 | 10 |
| 2026/27 | Atlético Madrid | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 |
International career
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Argentina | 2021 | 5 | 0 |
| Argentina | 2022 | 14 | 7 |
| Argentina | 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| Argentina | 2024 | 14 | 4 |
| Argentina | 2025 | 7 | 2 |
| Argentina | 2026 | 10 | 2 |
| Total | — | 59 | 15 |
Julián Alvarez’s playing style
Julian Alvarez’s playing style features a combination of pace, intelligent movements, great passing and composed finishing. Known as a versatile forward, Alvarez has a strong work rate, pressing ability, and ball protection. With great tactical intelligence, he is capable of operating as a striker and attacking midfielder, a role Pep Guardiola gave him at Manchester City.
Julián Alvarez’s trophies and achievements
Over the years, Julian has earned notable achievements and awards. Below is a tabular representation showing Julian Alvarez’s achievements and awards in his football career.
| Year(s) | Honour / Achievement | Club / Team | Category |
| 2018 | Copa Libertadores winner | River Plate | Club |
| 2019 | Copa Argentina winner | River Plate | Club |
| 2021 | Argentine Primera División winner | River Plate | Club |
| 2021 | Copa Libertadores top scorer | River Plate | Individual |
| 2022 | FIFA World Cup winner | Argentina | International |
| 2022 | Premier League winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2022/23 | FA Cup winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2022/23 | UEFA Champions League winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2022 | Finalissima winner | Argentina | International |
| 2023 | UEFA Super Cup winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2023 | FIFA Club World Cup winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2023/24 | Premier League winner | Manchester City | Club |
| 2024 | Copa América winner | Argentina | International |
| 2024/25 | Atlético Madrid Player of the Season | Atlético Madrid | Individual |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup runner-up | Argentina | International |
Julián Alvarez transfer history
Since Julian began playing, he has made several transfers, most recently moving from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid. Here is Julian Alvarez’s transfer history throughout his soccer career.
| Year | From | To | Transfer Type | Fee |
| 2016 | Club Atlético Calchín | River Plate | Youth transfer | Undisclosed |
| 2022 | River Plate | Manchester City | Permanent | €21.4m |
| 2022 | Manchester City | River Plate | Loan | — |
| 2024 | Manchester City | Atlético Madrid | Permanent | €75m + up to €20m add-ons |
Julián Alvarez’s latest news
On 23 August, Alvarez recorded his most competitive 24 minutes of playing time and helped the team secure a 2-2 draw against Villarreal. Since he joined Atletico Madrid, they have won 3-1 against Sevilla in La Liga. Stay tuned on the SportPesa live blog page for all Julian Alvarez’s latest news.
FAQs about Julián Alvarez
Why did Alvarez leave Man City?
Alvarez left Man City for Atletico Madrid to seek more regular playing time in major games and new career challenges.
How many goals has Alvarez scored in La Liga?
Julian Alvarez has scored 8 goals in La Liga for Atletico Madrid during the 2025/26 season.
How many titles has Julian Alvarez won?
Julian Alvarez has 16 major titles in his professional career.
What is Julián Alvarez’s market value?
Julián Álvarez has an estimated market value of €120 million.
Conclusion
Julian Alvarez’s consistency in his football career gives him a promising future. The all-time scorer has achieved great things in football in Argentina, England and Spain. Stay tuned on SportPesa to get information on Alvarez’s performance in the 2026/27 season.
Read Also: Premier League Records: Most Goals, Titles, Points, Assists and Appearances
