“Yes we do too”….Julian Alvarez admits he and others want Lionel Messi to keep playing for Argentina 

Julian Alvarez said he wants Lionel Messi to stay at Argentina for as long as he wants as he desires a repeat of their 2022 World Cup victory. Alvarez alongside Messi led Argentina’s attack as the Albiceleste won their first World Cup in 36 years in Qatar.

The duo are to link up again for Argentina at the Copa America this summer, which might be Messi’s last play with the squad. Alvarez has stated that he really desire for the eight-time balloon d’Or winner to stay put at Argentina.

Alvarez told GOAL in an interview: “It will depend on him but I think if he wants to he can do it comfortably.”. When asked if he and his Argentina team-mates want Messi to keep playing, he said: “Yes we do too.”

Alvarez admits he grew up looking up to Messi and playing with him was more like a dream come true.

“When I was growing up he was my idol and I remember in the training sessions with the senior team I asked him for a photo, and then when I went to the senior team I got another point of view.”

“It’s something crazy but also really nice and I try to enjoy every moment playing with him and I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved with the national team in this time and which he got after searching for it so long.”

Messi is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with ith 106 goals, i.e 50 goal difference from second placed Gabriel Batistuta who he surpassed in 2016. He also overtook Batistuta as Argentina’s top scorer at the World Cup by scoring seven times in Qatar

Alvarez has won six major trophies between December 2022 and December 2023 and he is desirous of more wins this year. He already has his eyes on Man City repeating last year’s treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He adopts a positive stance towards Argentina successfully defending their Copa American crown. He adds: “Obviously, we’re going to try and do it again”.