Alvarez joinedRiver Plate from Atlético Calchín in 2016, notably participating in theGeneration Adidas Cup with the club's youth teams.[4][5][6] Prior to signing for River, Alvarez had trials withBoca Juniors andReal Madrid; scoring twice in five games for the latter in a youth tournament.[5][7][8] He was unable to join Real due to age restrictions.[5] Alvarez was moved into River Plate's senior squad under managerMarcelo Gallardo during the2018–19 season, with his professional debut arriving on 27 October 2018 during aPrimera División fixture withAldosivi; he was subbed on forRodrigo Mora with 26 minutes remaining of a 1–0 victory.[4][9][10]
Alvarez appeared late on during the second leg of the2018 Copa Libertadores finals, with River beating rivals Boca Juniors.[4] Alvarez scored the first goal of his senior career on 17 March 2019, netting in a 3–0 league win overIndependiente.[4] During the succeeding December, he scored in the2019 Copa Argentina final againstCentral Córdoba as River won 3–0 to secure the trophy. In 2020, Alvarez netted five goals in sixCopa Libertadores group stage encounters.
On 31 January 2022, his 22nd birthday, it was confirmed that Alvarez had signed forPremier League championsManchester City on a five-and-a-half-year contract for a transfer fee in the region of £14 million,[12] and an agreement that the player would remain at River Plate on loan until July.[13]
On 17 May 2023, Alvarez scored the last goal in a 4–0 win overReal Madrid in theChampions League semi-final second leg, which cemented his club's qualification to the final.[18] Four days later, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory overChelsea to win his first Premier League title, and third in a row for his club.[19] On 10 June, he won theChampions League final with his club, despite being a non-playing substitute, to become among the players who won the FIFA World Cup and Champions League in the same season, in addition to achieving both the latter and the Copa Libertadores. With this, he also became the first ever player in football history to win the World Cup and a continental treble in the same season.[20]
2023–24: Starting eleven breakthrough and departure
On 19 August, Alvarez netted the lone goal in a 1–0 victory overNewcastle United.[21] Following the injuries ofBernardo Silva andKevin De Bruyne, Alvarez began featuring more regularly in the starting eleven, registering four goal contributions in his next Premier League matches, including two assists in a 3–1 away win over West Ham United on 16 September.[22] Three days later, he scored a brace in City's 3–1 home win overRed Star Belgrade in the UEFA Champions League.[23] Alvarez finished in 7th place in the2023 Ballon d'Or.[24] On 22 December, Manchester City defeatedFluminense 4–0 in the2023 FIFA Club World Cup final as Alvarez scored a brace and provided an assist to claim his firstClub World Cup title and finish the tournament as top scorer; with his first goal being the fastest in the competition's history at 40 seconds. On 4 May 2024, Alvarez made his 100th appearance for City, marking it with a late goal in a 5–1 league win overWolverhampton Wanderers.[25]
On 12 August 2024,La Liga clubAtlético Madrid confirmed the signing of Alvarez on a six-year deal reportedly worth up to €95 million (£81.8 million), which became a club-record departure for City.[26][27] On 19 August, he made his debut for the club, as a substitute, in a 2–2 draw againstVillarreal in the league.[28] On 26 September, Alvarez scored his first goal for the club in the 90th minute of a 1–0 victory overCelta Vigo.[29] On 12 March 2025, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid went to penalties after tying 2–2 on aggregate in theround of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Alvarez took Atlético's second penalty, but slipped as he took it yet appeared to successfully convert it, however through thevideo assistant referee it was determined that Alvarez had slightly touched the ball with his standing foot before striking it, causing the goal to be disallowed for double-touching the ball. Real Madrid would go on to win the penalty shoot-out 4–2 and advance to the next round. A day later,UEFA released a statement explaining that the decision to disallow Alvarez's penalty was the correct one, but that they would enter discussions withFIFA andIFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases in which the double touch is clearly unintentional.[30][31][32]
On 11 November 2022, Alvarez was included inLionel Scaloni's 26-man squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[40] On 30 November, he scored his first World Cup goal in a 2–0 win in the last group stage match againstPoland.[41] He followed with a second World Cup goal on 3 December, when he scored in Argentina's 2–1win against Australia.[42] He continued his scoring streak by adding two more goals in Argentina's 3–0 win againstCroatia in the semi-finals, becoming the youngest player sincePelé in1958 to score two goals in a World Cup semi-final at 22 years, 316 days old.[43][44] On 18 December, he was involved in Argentina's second goal as his team defeatedFrance 4–2 on penalties after the match ended 3–3 in extra-time of the final to win the World Cup.[45]
Alvarez is a versatile forward who can play anywhere on the front line.[46][47][48] He is direct, quick, and has graceful control with his right foot, often converting awkward chances. Alvarez is also a good link-up player, with the technique and vision to play quick passes and one-touch football.[46][49] Playing against rough South American tacklers, his dribbling and ability to manoeuvre in tight spaces are sublime. Alvarez is also a very hardworking player, running around off the ball and capable of leading a strong press.[47][50][51]
Alvarez's first touch is incredibly composed and always intentional, with him capable of both killing a ball dead or nudging it away from a defender and into his own path.[48][52] While not a particularly skillful dribbler, Alvarez is a powerful runner. His slightly hunched running style allows him to barrel through challenges and protect the ball effectively, and there is a tenacity and doggedness to his carrying that makes him difficult to stop.[50] Alvarez is used to playing in a two-striker system in a team with an extremely settled style of play.[50][51]
In the 2023–24 season, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola often used Alvarez as an attacking midfielder in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. Alvarez's intelligent running, passing and possession has led to him thriving in this position, and he has often been lauded by pundits for successfully adapting to the requirements of the new position.[50][53][54][55]
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