Julián Álvarez

Alvarez trained in full Wednesday as he is managing a minor ankle problem that is expected to clear up ahead of Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16, with coach Lionel Scaloni confirming the issue is not a serious concern, the Argentina federation posted.

Analysis: Alvarez ended a productive club campaign with 18 goals and eight assists across 44 appearances for Atletico Madrid and is expected to lead Argentina's attack throughout the tournament. Manager Scaloni will continue to monitor his condition over the coming days but the positive update suggests the striker will be fully available when the defending world champions begin their campaign.

Jun 8, 2026

Almost fully recovered

Alvarez "is fine, he has a minor ankle problem that is going away" ahead of the World Cup kickoff, according to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

Analysis: Alvarez has made progress in his recovery, looking to overcome his discomfort and potentially appear either in the final friendly game versus Iceland or in the initial World Cup meeting with Algeria. The star forward is currently expected to be favored over Lautaro Martinez in the contention to lead the front line, although both strikers could share time on the pitch. Alvarez is coming off a productive campaign in which he generated 18 goals and eight assists over 44 matches played across domestic and European play.

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