Julián Alvarez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Argentina national team.

In 2018, Alvarez was selected by the Argentina U-20s to train against the senior team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In December, Alvarez was picked for the 2019 South American U-20 Championship. In preparation for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he scored the second goal against Saudi Arabia in what was a 5–0 victory, during a friendly tournament played in Spain. After that, he received a call-up from Fernando Batista for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in May 2019. Four matches and one goal, versus South Africa, arrived for him in Poland. Batista subsequently called Alvarez up for the Olympic Team in the succeeding September, which preceded his selection for the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament; which Argentina won, with Alvarez scoring once (versus Venezuela) in seven matches.

Alvarez made his debut for the Argentina senior team on 3 June 2021, in a World Cup qualifier against Chile as a 62nd-minute substitute for Ángel Di María. On 29 March 2022, he scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw against Ecuador.

Alvarez is a versatile forward who can play anywhere on the front line. 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. 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.

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. 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. Alvarez is used to playing in a two-striker system in a team with an extremely settled style of play.