Julián Álvarez: His favourite players, Messi’s traits and top aura | OneFootball

He is one of the standout names in Spanish football at the moment. A key player and goal scorer for Atlético de Madrid, enjoying his best form, Julián Álvarez garners praise for his performances both on and off the field. In this context, he participated in a relaxed Q&A session where he was asked to create his ideal player by choosing the best in each aspect of the game. The result was a fascinating map of his football idols.

The main surprise came when defining who is the player with the “most aura.” This distinction, a product of modern football vocabulary, refers to the vibe of a player who knows how to combine leadership with charisma and bravery. It was not Lionel Messi or another legend who was chosen. Who was it? None other than Antoine Griezmann, his current attacking partner.

The choice is not coincidental. It can be interpreted as a gesture of admiration for his teammate and a compliment that could further solidify their chemistry on the pitch, as seen in the recent Champions League victory against Frankfurt, where the Argentine assisted the Frenchman in his historic 200th goal for the club.

The roles assigned to Messi and other teammates from the Argentina National Team

Aside from Griezmann's recognition, the figure of Messi was the central axis of Julián's choices, who reserved the most emphatic praise for him. Not only did he highlight him as the “best finisher” on the planet, a quality he knows firsthand, but he also, without hesitation, confirmed him as the “greatest footballer of all time.”

Continuing with the breakdown of his perfect player, the native of Calchín also dared to acknowledge other legends. For dribbling and one-on-one skills, he leaned towards the flair of Brazilian Neymar. Meanwhile, for the role of “playmaker” or creator of play, he chose the elegance and vision of Andrés Iniesta, an icon of Barcelona and Spanish football.

Finally, he completed the rest of the ideal team with the backbone of the Argentina National Team. The security between the posts, for Julián, bears the name of Emiliano Martínez, while the hierarchy and solidity in the central defense belong to his teammate Cristian Cuti Romero. Thus, he completed the puzzle by adding an Argentine touch, with names he will reunite with in the coming hours as he joins the Scaloneta for the friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.