Alvarez vows to shoulder burden for Messi as Argentina march to final

Julian Alvarez has revealed that Argentina’s younger forwards have been operating under a strict tactical mandate to physically shield Lionel Messi from defensive attrition, as the reigning world champions stand just ninety minutes away from a historic title defense.

In Tuesday’s emphatic 3-0 semi-final demolition of Croatia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the 23-year-old Manchester City striker netted a devastating brace—the first a poacher’s finish from a rebound, and the second a chaotic 40-yard solo run that saw him stumble, recover, and slot past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Yet, despite his individual heroics, Alvarez’s immediate post-match testimony centered entirely on his captain.

“We will do everything to make sure Messi wins the World Cup again,” Alvarez told TyC Sports in a breathless mixed-zone interview. He elaborated that manager Lionel Scaloni has explicitly tasked the attacking unit with covering excessive ground to minimize the 35-year-old’s defensive workload. Tracking data from the fixture showed Alvarez logged over 11.2 kilometers—significantly surpassing his tournament average—highlighting a deliberate strategy of high-pressing attrition.

“We know at his age, he cannot waste energy on lost causes,” Alvarez explained. “Every reckless tackle aimed at him, I try to intercept. Every defensive transition, we sprint back so he can stay high up the pitch. Every game is a physical battle for him, and it is our job to absorb those hits.”

The defining image of the night, however, was not the scoreline but Alvarez’s immediate reaction to his second goal. As the ball nestled into the net, he bypassed a swarm of celebrating teammates, sprinting directly toward the skipper. “The first thing I did when I scored the goal was to hug him,” Alvarez confirmed. Upon reaching Messi, he lifted the veteran off his feet in a tight embrace that lasted several seconds. According to Alvarez, he whispered into his idol’s ear: “This one is for you, Leo. We are carrying you to the final.”

Veteran teammates later remarked that the gesture symbolized the profound reverence the new generation holds for their leader. For Alvarez, who grew up in the small town of Calchin with a replica of Messi’s 2014 World Cup jersey pinned to his bedroom wall—a tournament that ended in agonizing defeat to Germany—the moment was deeply prophetic. Now, he finds himself physically supporting the man he once worshipped from afar, desperate to deliver the crowning jewel that would cement Argentina’s dynastic legacy.

Argentina now pivots to a blockbuster final against France on Sunday, a rematch of the 2022 classic. Alvarez concluded with a defiant promise to the millions back home: “We have one more war to win. We will run through concrete for him. For Leo, for the people, we want this more than oxygen.”