When Argentina needed to win to guarantee a place in the World Cup last-16, they turned to their number nine.
After seeing Lautaro Martinez struggle to make an impact in the shock defeat to Saudi Arabia and then the tense win over Mexico, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni decided a change was needed up front so his side weren't as reliant on hero Lionel Messi.
In came Julian Alvarez, and the Manchester City striker repaid Scaloni's faith with a brilliantly-taken second goal to effectively seal Argentina's last-16 place. It was the latest step in Alvarez's recent rise, and another goal that silenced any doubters of a player supposedly signed to be second choice.
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Alvarez was always a low-risk signing for City, brought in for a transfer fee of just £17m, and with a record for River Plate that means if things didn't work out then there would surely be a queue of clubs lining up to sign him instead. But from the moment Alvarez's deal was announced in January, he has continued to defy expectations.
City were initially keen to play down expectations of Alvarez, however his 2022 form for River Plate and the quality of goals scored made that impossible. Pep Guardiola changed plans so that Alvarez was included in City's squad for the season rather than sent out on loan - even then, he was always going to be second-choice to Erling Haaland.
Alvarez has faced some low-key criticism for 'settling' as a back-up striker, with some questioning why he would be happy with sitting on the bench all season. Clearly, though, Alvarez is a confident player, and he has always looked keen to take his chances when they come.
Whether that was in pre-season as Haaland took longer to get up to full-fitness, or in his early cameos in the Premier League as Haaland got off to a flyer, the effort from Alvarez could never be questioned. With Haaland injured towards the end of the domestic fixtures before the World Cup break, Alvarez stepped in and registered three goals and two assists in five consecutive starts to show Haaland isn't the only one who can chip in with the goals.
In fact, after a goal in Argentina's World Cup warm-up win over UAE and his brilliant strike against Poland, Alvarez has now scored on each of his last five starts for club and country. In total this season for City and Argentina, he averages a goal or assist every 100 minutes - which is far from terrible given he's only completed 90 minutes in five of his 26 appearances.
Alvarez spoke of his joy at playing alongside Messi when the legendary no.10 set him up to score against UAE, and maybe the 22-year-old is the perfect striker to lead the line in a side containing a talisman like Messi. Alvarez has spent four months in the shadow of Haaland, the best striker in the world, and is now fulfilling the same role for Messi at the World Cup. He's happy to wait his turn, and has a track record of taking his chance when it comes.
When Alvarez was sat on the bench for City watching Haaland score all of his goals, the criticism levelled at him over his ambition always felt unfair. Now he's silenced those critics with his goals for the Blues before the World Cup, he's showing the same attitude for his country and is living the dream.
It's no longer a case of asking why Alvarez would be happy to play in the shadow of world class players - it might be time to ask whether there are any better 'second strikers' around in the world right now?
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