The 3 best Premier League players at the FIFA World Cup 2022

2.) Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

After the opening match, in which Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia, Julian Alvarez would’ve likely been wondering how the game could have gone if he had started from the beginning. Well, after matchday two, he never had to wonder again. He started from the first whistle in 5 of the remaining 6 matches, after Lautaro Martinez had two stinkers, back-to-back, in the first two games.

Alvarez never looked back, amassing 4 goals in those remaining 6 games, two of which came in the semi-final against Croatia. With the Premier League newcomer by Messi’s side, Argentina’s attack looked much more functional, more importantly, they put away more chances that were put in front of them, something Lautaro Martinez couldn’t seem to figure out how to do.

Alvarez’s link-up play, creativity, and energy were incredibly helpful in unlocking defenses, and freeing Argentina’s attack, allowing Messi time and space to work his magic. It seems only up from here for the 22-year-old Premier League player.

It seems safe to say that if Julian Alvarez keeps on performing to the level we saw in the World Cup, he’ll have the nod of his international head coach and will be knocking on the door for starts at Manchester City.