Posted by Efraín Álvarez does his talking on the field. According to his father, Crescencio, the 18-year old whiz kid is not blessed with the gift of gab, but that has not prevented a meteoric rise to the professional ranks with LA Galaxy. Along the way, Álvarez has drawn admiration from the likes of Eric Cantona and Zlatan Ibrahimović, with both legends only too eager to sing the youngster’s praises. Yet, the tricky attacker is more than just a potential world-beater: his talent can define the future of the United States-Mexico rivalry.
Born and raised in the City of Angels to Mexican parents, Álvarez represented his birth nation at U-15 level before switching allegiances to El Tri in 2016. Although he impressed at the U-17 World Cup last fall, there is no senior call-up on the horizon for the promising playmaker, raising the specter of another effort from the Stars and Stripes to bring him back into the fold.
That there is an international tug of war underway for Álvarez is understandable. The Californian creator possesses a wand-like left foot that makes him a danger anywhere across the front line. His tight dribbling and imaginative passing puts constant pressure on opposing backlines. As Ibrahimović said after the teenager’s first MLS start in July 2019, Álvarez has a natural affinity for the sport that makes everything easier for his teammates.
Yet, the innate ability that helped Álvarez make his MLS bow at 16 has also hindered his development. He was initially unfamiliar with the defensive work that is a central tenet of the modern game, and much of his first full campaign was spent on the bench as he struggled to reach his ideal weight.
However, the break in league action due to COVID-19 was a turning point for the phenom, who changed his diet and began hitting the gym. Álvarez’s efforts were not initially rewarded with more minutes on the pitch, but he celebrated his first start in more than a year by opening his MLS account with a well-taken strike against Portland Timbers on September 2.
That goal, which included two sharp one-touch passes followed by a precise finish with his left peg, was a snapshot of what Álvarez can do. Even with all the excitement the academy product has generated, Galaxy manager Guillermo Barros Schelotto seems keen to bring him along slowly, as evidenced by the decision to sit him for the crosstown derby with LAFC.
A cautious approach is certainly the best way forward with regards to the teen’s development. There are numerous cases of precocious prodigies who fall by the wayside before fulfilling their promise, while relatively few ascend to greatness. Time will tell which way Álvarez’s career goes, but for now he can focus on letting his feet speak for him.
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