Julian Alvarez gets a heroic welcome in his home town

Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez has helped Argentina to football’s most coveted prize.

The young forward helped his home nation to a third World Cup victory courtesy of a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout victory over France in Lusail.

He had earned just 13 senior caps for his country ahead of flying out to Qatar, finding the net three times in the process.

But four strikes in six appearances from the 22-year-old has seen him more than double his scoring tally for La Albiceleste, while also playing a starring role in the Argentines’ march to a first World Cup triumph since 1986.

From a shock opening defeat through to a mesmeric semi-final display, this is Alvarez’s World Cup story.