Almost no elite footballer makes it without a single tattoo on their skin. Julián Álvarez does.
The forward, scorer of Argentina’s stunning goal in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, explained the reason: a promise he made to his father as a child. “He told us no tattoos, no cigarettes or alcohol. I don’t do it to be different, but because of what I learned”, he explained. For him, they were never imposed rules, but rather a path he decided to follow if he wanted to go far.
The forward stays away from controversy and barely uses social media personally. That same low profile has accompanied him on the pitch: after alternating with Lautaro Martínez for much of the tournament, he earned a starting spot in the final matches and delivered with the goal that has Argentina dreaming.