Álvarez’s admiration for Messi is no secret, but the personal nature of his comments makes the connection particularly striking. Messi is not simply a former Argentina captain or global icon to the Atlético Madrid forward; he is the player Álvarez grew up watching and the figure who helped shape his ambitions.
That relationship also gives added meaning to the possibility of Álvarez joining Barcelona. The club remains inseparable from Messi’s legacy, making any potential move more than a standard transfer storyline for an Argentine player.
The report says Álvarez has made brief comments about wanting to leave Atlético Madrid, while his name has been linked with Barcelona. No agreement is confirmed, however, and the player’s immediate priority is clearly Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
His second message reinforced that focus: “Continuar jogando ao lado dele, alcançar outro grande marco com a seleção argentina e ajudá-lo como eu puder significa tudo para mim”, Álvarez said.
That is the language of a player concentrating on a shared objective rather than negotiating his next step. Transfer questions can wait while Argentina chase another major international achievement.
For Álvarez, the England match offers the next stage of a remarkable story alongside his childhood idol. A strong run with Argentina could keep the Barcelona discussion in the background for now.
Once the tournament ends, attention will return to whether Barcelona’s reported interest develops into something concrete - or whether Álvarez continues his career at Atlético Madrid.