Buenos Aires is preparing for a symbolic change of guard, and Julián Álvarez arrives with his own reasons to embrace the Argentina camp. The Atlético de Madrid forward returns to international duty on Wednesday night, in the early hours of Thursday in Spain, as Lionel Scaloni begins life without Lionel Messi at the centre of the team.
Argentina’s first fixture of the new cycle comes against Bolivia, with Álvarez in contention either from the opening whistle or as an option from the bench. Scaloni intends to use the meetings with Bolivia and Burkina Faso to test alternatives and give opportunities to less established players, while several long-serving figures are absent from these opening matches.
For Álvarez, the break offers distance from an unsettled start in Madrid. His World Cup in the United States ended painfully, with Argentina beaten by Spain in the final, and the striker’s form came under considerable scrutiny. That difficult tournament also sparked the situation that went on to dominate the summer transfer window. Back at Atlético, he has endured an unusual opening stretch, still without a goal after around six weeks of the campaign, and the club are waiting for him to rediscover both confidence and sharpness.
The three-match window gives him a route back into rhythm. After Bolivia, Argentina face Burkina Faso before returning to the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday, 6 October, for a meeting with Benin that will carry a different weight. It is scheduled to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina, closing an uninterrupted 21-year international career.
Amid the emotion surrounding Messi’s farewell, Álvarez has an important personal assignment. For a few days, the questions around Atlético and his immediate future can wait. Argentina need to find their bearings after an era-defining player, while their Madrid-based forward needs minutes, goals and the sense of release that has been missing since the season began.
