Julián Álvarez, the scorer who always smiles and scores on par with Kempes, Maradona and Pelé

Giuliano Alvarez he doesn’t stop smiling. He smiles when he enters the field, smiles when he carries the ball and smiles when he scores a goal. The gesture always accompanies him. He smiles too when he comes out of the mixed area of ​​the Lusail stadium after playing a ten-point match in the 3-0 win against Croatia in the semifinal of this Qatar World Cup 2022.

Ten points because he ran from the first to the last minute of the game, because he got tired of pressing and making mistakes on the opposing defense and because, almost without changing the scene, he reconfigured himself to make diagonals and mark passing lanes against a Croatian defense that didn’t I managed it. Ten points, more, because not everyone gets a brace in the prelude to a world final.

And when it is said that what Julián Álvarez has just done has not been done by anyone, it is worth going to the archive. With the two goals of him he joined a selected club of the Argentina national team: solo Mario Alberto Kempes (in the 6-0 against Peru) e Diego Armando Maradona (in a 2-0 defeat against Belgium) scored a brace in the semi-final. Impress.

“This is inexplicable. I feel immense joy to be able to give such great joy to all Argentines. It is a source of pride. To whom do I dedicate it? To my family, to the people who have always supported me, through thick and thin not so well. My family and my girlfriend are here and we are proud that they can enjoy this important moment”, releases with a smile, how could it be otherwise, this 22-year-old boy who, in addition, accidentally added another milestone: only Pelé -yes, you read that right, Pelé- scored two goals in a World Cup semi-final at a young age.

It’s for important things, Julian. He is a chosen one. A headdress. He opens the game with one of those diagonals that leave Lovren and Gvardiol unanswered on Enzo Fernández’s ball. He didn’t define himself well, but goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic took it and referee Daniele Orsato charged a penalty. And Messi has finished closing the process.

Immediately, five minutes later, Julián picked up a ball which Messi dropped before crossing midfield and running and running and running. He wanted to take advantage of the fact that Nahuel Molina was dragging his mark and entered the penalty area. Luck was with him: a rebound, another rebound and another rebound for the ball to rebound in front of the goalkeeper. All the time with a smile on his face. Goal for the scorer. To pure power.

“I saw my team-mates were passing. I kept on with the ball, I think I had some luck. Nice goal. I was collapsing and just stood there”He explained the show as he took the opportunity to say hello to the people of Calchín, his lifelong friends and the people who have come to and around Qatar to encourage La Scaloneta.

Julian smiles. And life also smiles at this boy who hasn’t ceased to amaze since he appeared in the Primera de River. Life smiles at him, of course, because he plays with Messi and Messi can make interplanetary plays like the one he made before serving his goal. “It’s amazing. You don’t have to say the things Leo does and the things he can do. You always have to be ready for any pass because we know he can do anything with the ball. I was waiting in the box. I thought I could make a pass in any moment. It was a good goal. All of him,” he recalls incredulously.

And yes, it is obvious. She conjures it up with a smile. He had his reward for being patient. He knew that Messi, after taking the boy Gvardiol for a walk, would go to see him. And he saw it. Crushed Argentina. Closed the match with Argentina. He made it to the final on Sunday 18 December. And Julián, who towards the end broke up in an embrace with Lautaro Martínez, the striker from whom he won the job, completed this historic double.

“It’s an immense joy to experience a World Cup, which is one of the most important events, not just at a sporting level. As a boy I’ve always been a fan of the national team. Today I can be on the other side. Being able to help the team is a source of pride” , he repeats.

How not to be proud? He started the tournament as a substitute and was only starter in the match against Poland. Since then he has four goals. He is already seventh in the list of strikers in the World Cup who has led a certain Messi alone since Tuesday with 11 celebrations. The Manchester City boy shares that privileged place with Daniel Bertoni, Claudio Caniggia, Hernán Crespo, René Houseman, Leopoldo Luque and Jorge Valdano. A fact: the four goals were scored in just one World Cup. The others, with the exception of the eternal Luque, needed more than one to reach that figure.

The key to this moment? “The group has been the same for a long time. We all pull in the same direction. I always say that I try to do my best. We all think alike. On the field to give one hundred and out to support my teammates. That’s why I think it’s everyone’s hug, ”he reflects. A press officer tells him enough. Julián says goodbye. Yes, he leaves with a smile.

Lusail, Qatar. Special delivery.