Gael Arturo Álvarez Montiel (born 9 March 2006) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX club Pachuca.

Gael Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Gael Arturo Álvarez Montiel[1]
Date of birth (2006-03-09) 9 March 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico[1]
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Pachuca
Number 240
Youth career
2015–2017 Tuzos
2018– Pachuca
International career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Mexico U15
2022 Mexico U16 3 (0)
2021– Mexico U17 15 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF U-17 Championship
Winner 2023 Guatemala
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 September 2023

Early life

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Born in Guasave in the state of Sinaloa in Mexico, Álvarez was raised in the Barrio del Chaleco, where he played football on local pitches with his brother and father.[2]

Club career

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Álvarez started at the Age of 9, at Tuzos Guasave FC.[3] He then joined the academy of professional side Pachuca at under-13 level.[4] In April 2023, Álvarez represented Pachuca at the Future Cup, hosted by Dutch side Ajax, where he caught the eye of a number of clubs across Europe.[5] In August of the same year, he was taken on trial by Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord, though he was only allowed by Pachuca to spend fifteen days on the trial, as he was still a minor, with the club affirming that Álvarez was "non-transferrable".[6]

On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[7]

International career

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Álvarez was called up to Mexico's under-16 squad for the 2022 edition of the Montaigu Tournament, as Mexico finished in eighth position.[1]

Having represented Mexico's under-17 team since 2021, Carrillo was called up to the squad for the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. He scored Mexico's opening goal of the tournament, a second minute scissor kick in an eventual 9–0 win against Curaçao, before adding to his tally in Mexico's 6–0 win against Nicaragua in the round of sixteen.[8] For his performances, he was named 'player of the tournament', as Mexico won the competition, beating the United States 3–1 in the final.[2][9][10]

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gael Álvarez at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b Castro, Charly (27 February 2023). "Gael Álvarez: De jugar en el barrio a representar a México en premundial y ser el más valioso" [Gael Álvarez: From playing in the neighborhood to representing Mexico in the World Cup and being the most valuable]. lineadirectaportal.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. ^ Carrazco, Edgardo (15 August 2023). "Guasavense Gael Arturo Álvarez es nombrado el mejor jugador del pre mundial de Concacaf". losnoticieristas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. ^ Rodríguez Ávila, Carlos (15 August 2023). "Gael Álvarez, canterano del Pachuca, estará a prueba con el Feyenoord" [Gael Álvarez, Pachuca youth player, will be on trial with Feyenoord]. lajornadahidalgo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ^ Negrete, Megan (11 April 2023). "Gael Álvarez, estrella de Pachuca, despierta interés en Europa ¿Quién es el juvenil?" [Gael Álvarez, Pachuca star, arouses interest in Europe. Who is the youth player?]. juanfutbol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  6. ^ Olvera, Marcos (15 August 2023). "Gael Álvarez, canterano de Pachuca, estará a prueba con el Feyenoord" [Gael Álvarez, Pachuca's youth player, will be on trial with Feyenoord]. record.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  7. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Gael Álvarez anota en la goleada de la Selección Mexicana sub 17" [Gael Álvarez scores in the victory of the Mexican under 17 team]. sportsmedia.games (in Spanish). 12 February 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. ^ "De Guasave para el mundo; Gael Álvarez brilló en el PreMundial Sub-17" [From Guasave to the world; Gael Álvarez shone in the U-17 Pre-World Cup]. tiemporealportal.com (in Spanish). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  10. ^ Angeles, Alexis (27 February 2023). "Gael Álvarez el sinaloense que brillo en el Premundial con México" [Gael Álvarez, the Sinaloan who shone in the World Cup with Mexico]. elsoldesinaloa.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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