Efraín Álvarez

Efraín Álvarez (born 19 June 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Born in the United States, he represents the Mexico national team.

Efraín Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Efraín Álvarez
Date of birth (2002-06-19) 19 June 2002
Place of birth East Los Angeles, California, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Club information
Current team
 LA Galaxy
Number 26
Youth career
2016–2017 LA Galaxy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 LA Galaxy II 20 (13)
2019– LA Galaxy 65 (4)
National team‡
2016 United States U15 4 (4)
2017 Mexico U15 9 (1)
2018–2019 Mexico U17 25 (13)
2021– Mexico 4 (0)
Honours
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
FIFA U-17 World Cup
2019 BrazilTeam
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 April 2022
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 July 2021

Club career

LA Galaxy II

Born in Los Angeles, California, Álvarez signed with LA Galaxy II of the United Soccer League on August 2, 2017.[1] In signing with the side, Álvarez became the youngest signing in USL history, ahead of the previous holder Alphonso Davies, at 15 years, one month, and 14 days.[1] Álvarez made his professional debut for LA Galaxy II on October 7, against Portland Timbers 2, he came on as a 46th-minute substitute for Adrian Vera as LA Galaxy II won 3–2.[2] In playing, Álvarez became the youngest player to ever play a USL match.[3] Álvarez was moved to parent club LA Galaxy ahead of their 2018 season, but was loaned back to the reserve team.[4]

LA Galaxy

Álvarez made his senior team debut on March 2, 2019, and assisted on a goal during a 2–1 victory over the Chicago Fire.[5] On September 2, 2020 Álvarez scored his first MLS goal against the Portland Timbers, the first in a 3–2 win.[6]

International career

Álvarez was eligible for the United States and Mexico, having been born and raised in the United States to Mexican parents. He currently represents Mexico at the senior level after playing for the United States at the U-15 youth level, and once stated "I'm not closing the door on anyone. I could still play for the U.S. or I could keep playing for Mexico. But I'm with Mexico right now and that's my focus."[7]

Álvarez originally represented the United States U15s. In April 2016, he served as their captain at the 2016 International Festival of Fútbol in Rosario, Argentina, starting all three matches and leading the United States to the title. In the opening match against Talleres de Córdoba, Álvarez scored three goals and assisted two more goals in a 5–1 victory.[8] He also scored against Uruguay U15s in a 2–0 win.[9] In June 2016, Álvarez was again called to the United States U15s, for a four-team tournament in Zagreb, Croatia in which he made one start against Croatia U15s.[10]

Álvarez began playing for Mexico U15s in September 2016.[11] He scored a brace for them in a friendly 7–0 win over the Cayman Islands U17 on August 11, 2017.[12] He also represented the Mexico U15s in their championship-winning run at the 2017 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship, and provided the game-winning assist against his previous team, the United States U15s.[13]

Álvarez debuted for the Mexico U17s in a 1–0 win over the Argentina U17s, and scored the only goal in the match.[14] He was included in the roster that would participate at the 2019 U-17 World Cup.[15] He scored four goals in the tournament, scoring the winning goal from a free-kick in the semi-final against the Netherlands[16] as Mexico finished runner-up against Brazil.[17]

In November 2020, Álvarez was called-up to the United States national team for a friendly match in Fort Lauderdale against El Salvador. However, he did not receive any playing minutes in that match due to not having yet filed a one-time switch to FIFA in order to officially play for the United States.[18][19]

In March 2021, Álvarez was called-up to the Mexico national football team for friendly matches against Wales and Costa Rica. On March 30, he made his debut with the national team against Costa Rica, coming on as a substitute for Jesús Manuel Corona during the second half for a 1–0 victory.[20]

In June 2021, Álvarez confirmed his commitment to Mexico over overtures to play for the United States.[21] A few days later, he replaced the injured Rodolfo Pizarro on the upcoming 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad.[22] On July 10, 2021, his appearance as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago permanently cap-tied him to Mexico.[23]

Personal life

Álvarez is the brother of professional soccer player Carlos Alvarez.[24]

Career statistics

Club
As of 30 April 2022[25]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy II 2017 USL10———10
2018 1712———1712
2019 21———21
Total 2013———2013
LA Galaxy 2019 MLS 1402[lower-alpha 1]22[lower-alpha 2]0—182
2020 161———161
2021 262———262
2022 911[lower-alpha 1]0——101
Total 654322000706
Career total 85173220009019
  1. Appearances in U.S. Open Cup
  2. Appearances in Leagues Cup

International
As of match played 14 July 2021[26]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mexico 202140
Total40

Honours

Mexico U17

Individual

References
  1. "LA Galaxy II sign LA Galaxy Academy midfielder Efrain Alvarez". LA Galaxy. August 2, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  2. "LA Galaxy II 3-2 Portland Timbers 2". Soccerway.
  3. "Efrain Alvarez youngest". LA Galaxy II (Twitter).
  4. "LA Galaxy". www.mlssoccer.com.
  5. Boehm, Charles (March 2, 2019). "LA Galaxy Homegrown Efrain Alvarez sparks comeback win on MLS debut". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  6. ""Changed" LA Galaxy Homegrown standout Efrain Alvarez lauded for first MLS goal".
  7. "LA Galaxy's Efrain Alvarez remains open to USMNT international switch". www.mlssoccer.com.
  8. "USA Soccer U-15s win 2016 fire International Festival of Futbol". www.starsandstripesfc.com. April 12, 2016.
  9. "U-15 BNT Defeats Uruguay 2-0 to Win 2016 International Festival of Futbol". www.ussoccer.com.
  10. "U-15 BNT FINISHES FOUR-TEAM TOURNAMENT IN ZAGREB, CROATIA". www.ussoccer.com.
  11. "Mexico raids Galaxy academy for 14-year-old star". www.socceramerica.com.
  12. "La SNM Sub-15 venció a Islas Caimán - Mi Seleccion". miseleccion.mx.
  13. chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, CHRIS HOCKMAN - (May 24, 2018). "Los Dos' Efrain Alvarez Kept Grounded by Family".
  14. "La SNM Sub-17 cerró su gira con empate. - Mi Seleccion". miseleccion.mx.
  15. "Revelan lista del Tri para Mundial Sub-17; la encabeza la 'joya' que Zlatan alaba".
  16. "LA Galaxy's Efrain Alvarez shines at FIFA Under-17 World Cup for Mexico".
  17. "Brazil beat Mexico for U-17 World Cup title amid VAR controversy".
  18. "Sources: LA Galaxy duo Efrain Alvarez, Julian Araujo in USMNT squad". www.espn.com. November 27, 2020.
  19. "Efraín Álvarez entrenará con EU por cortesía, pero quiere seguir con México". Goal (in Spanish). Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  20. "U.S.-born Efrain Alvarez makes Mexico debut as Lozano scores only goal against Costa Rica". March 31, 2021.
  21. "Official: Efraín Álvarez commits to Mexico national team". AS.com. June 26, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  22. "Rodolfo Pizarro es baja de la Selección Mexicana; Efraín Álvarez toma su lugar". June 28, 2021.
  23. Rodriguez, Alicia (July 11, 2021). "Efrain Alvarez's international future sealed after being cap-tied by Mexico". LAG Confidential. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  24. chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, CHRIS HOCKMAN- (May 24, 2018). "Los Dos' Efrain Alvarez Kept Grounded by Family". USL Championship.
  25. Efraín Álvarez at Soccerway
  26. Efraín Álvarez at National-Football-Teams.com
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