Argentina's Julian Alvarez Dealt Bad News Before Algeria Game
Julian Alvarez enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying far different expectations than he did four years ago.
In Qatar, he arrived as a promising young forward fighting for minutes in a star-studded Argentina attack. This summer, he arrives as one of the faces of the national team and a player Lionel Scaloni will lean on heavily as Argentina attempts to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a World Cup title.
The 25-year-old remains one of the most important pieces in Argentina's attack alongside Lionel Messi. His energy, pressing ability and knack for scoring in big moments have made him a favorite among supporters. But one question has lingered throughout Argentina's preparations for the tournament: who will lead the frontline in the World Cup?
That battle has largely come down to Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, two forwards who have spent years competing for the same role in Scaloni's system.
According to Argentina reporter Gastón Edul, Martinez is expected to get the starting nod against Algeria, leaving Alvarez on the bench for Argentina's first match of the tournament.
Interestingly, Scaloni opted for a similar approach during the last World Cup. Martinez opened Argentina's 2022 campaign as the starting striker against Saudi Arabia, a match that ended in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history as Argentina fell 2-1. After that defeat, Scaloni turned to Alvarez, and the then-Manchester City forward never looked back.
Lionel Scaloni is testing both 5-3-2 and 4-4-2 systems ahead of Argentina's opener vs Algeria.
— Premiumerza (@PREMIUMERZA) June 15, 2026
- Molina and Montiel are expected to share minutes, with a strong possibility of both featuring in the same match.
- Up front, Lautaro Martínez is currently the leading… https://t.co/M9dxq2dmaPpic.twitter.com/4Ba3Tkf7fC
Alvarez became one of the breakout stars of the tournament, scoring four goals during Argentina's run to the title. He found the net twice against Croatia in the semifinals and also scored against Poland and Australia.
This time, however, Martinez arrives with a much stronger case of his own. The Inter Milan captain enjoyed another outstanding season in Italy, finishing as Serie A's leading scorer with 17 goals and once again leading the club to a domestic title.
That does not necessarily mean Alvarez's role will be reduced throughout the tournament. Scaloni has frequently rotated between the two forwards depending on the opponent, and Alvarez is still considered the favorite to start most of Argentina's games.
Argentina begins its title quest on Tuesday in Kansas City, and whether Scaloni's decision to start Martinez lasts beyond one match remains to be seen.
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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 4:47 AM.