Efraín Álvarez

Efraín Álvarez (born 19 June 2002) is a American-born Mexican professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major Soccer League club LA Galaxy. Álvarez has represented both the United States and Mexico at youth level, including Mexico at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and has been called up to the United States at senior level.[1]

Efraín Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Efraín Álvarez
Date of birth (2002-06-19) 19 June 2002
Place of birth Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
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 30 (1)
National team‡
2016 United States U15 3 (4)
2017 Mexico U15 1 (0)
2018–2019 Mexico U17 13 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 May 2019

Club career

Born in Los Angeles, California, Álvarez signed with the LA Galaxy II of the United Soccer League on 2 August 2017.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3] In playing, Álvarez became the youngest player to ever play a USL match.[4]

Álvarez was moved to parent club LA Galaxy ahead of their 2018 season, but was loaned back to the reserve team.[5] Álvarez made his senior team debut on 2 March 2019, and assisted on a goal during a 2–1 victory over the Chicago Fire.[6] On 2 September 2020 Álvarez scored his first MLS goal against the Portland Timbers, the first in a 3–2 win.[7]

International career

Álvarez is eligible for the United States and Mexico, having been born in the United States to Mexican parents. He currently represents Mexico at youth level after playing for the United States at youth level, and has 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."[8]

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.[9] He also scored against Uruguay U15s in a 2–0 win.[10] 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.[11]

Álvarez began playing for Mexico U15s in September 2016.[12] He scored a brace for them in a friendly 7–0 win over the Cayman Islands U17 on 11 August 2017.[13] 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.[14]

Álvarez debuted for the Mexico U17s in a 1–0 win over the Argentina U17s, and scored the only goal in the match.[15] He was included in the roster that would participate at the 2019 U-17 World Cup.[16] He scored four goals in the tournament, scoring the winning goal from a free-kick in the semi-final against the Netherlands[17] as Mexico finished runner-up against Brazil.[18]

In November 2020, Álvarez was called-up to the United States national team for a friendly match in Fort Lauderdale against El Salvador.[19] He honored the United States call-up along out of courtesy, though he still expects to be part of the Mexico national football team [20]

Personal life

Álvarez is the brother of the soccer player Carlos Alvarez.[21]

Career statistics
As of 6 December 2020[22]
Club Season League U.S. Open Cup MLS Cup Playoffs Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
LA Galaxy II 2017 USL Championship10——————10
2018 1712——————1712
2019 21——————21
Total 20130000002013
LA Galaxy 2019 MLS140220000162
2020 MLS161000000161
Total 301220000323
Career total 50142200005216

Honours
Individual

Mexico U17

References
  1. "Efraín Álvarez can't play for US until he files for switch from Mexico". As. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  2. "LA Galaxy II sign LA Galaxy Academy midfielder Efrain Alvarez". LA Galaxy. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  3. "LA Galaxy II 3-2 Portland Timbers 2". Soccerway.
  4. "Efrain Alvarez youngest". LA Galaxy II (Twitter).
  5. https://www.mlssoccer.com/rosters/2018/la-galaxy
  6. Boehm, Charles (2 March 2019). "LA Galaxy Homegrown Efrain Alvarez sparks comeback win on MLS debut". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  7. ""Changed" LA Galaxy Homegrown standout Efrain Alvarez lauded for first MLS goal".
  8. "LA Galaxy's Efrain Alvarez remains open to USMNT international switch". www.mlssoccer.com.
  9. "USA Soccer U-15s win 2016 fire International Festival of Futbol". www.starsandstripesfc.com.
  10. "U-15 BNT Defeats Uruguay 2-0 to Win 2016 International Festival of Futbol". www.ussoccer.com.
  11. "U-15 BNT FINISHES FOUR-TEAM TOURNAMENT IN ZAGREB, CROATIA". www.ussoccer.com.
  12. "Mexico raids Galaxy academy for 14-year-old star". www.socceramerica.com.
  13. "La SNM Sub-15 venció a Islas Caimán - Mi Seleccion". miseleccion.mx.
  14. chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, CHRIS HOCKMAN - (24 May 2018). "Los Dos' Efrain Alvarez Kept Grounded by Family".
  15. "La SNM Sub-17 cerró su gira con empate. - Mi Seleccion". miseleccion.mx.
  16. "Revelan lista del Tri para Mundial Sub-17; la encabeza la 'joya' que Zlatan alaba".
  17. "LA Galaxy's Efrain Alvarez shines at FIFA Under-17 World Cup for Mexico".
  18. "Brazil beat Mexico for U-17 World Cup title amid VAR controversy".
  19. "Sources: LA Galaxy duo Efrain Alvarez, Julian Araujo in USMNT squad". www.espn.com.
  20. "Efraín Álvarez entrenará con EU por cortesía, pero quiere seguir con México". Goal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  21. chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, CHRIS HOCKMAN- (24 May 2018). "Los Dos' Efrain Alvarez Kept Grounded by Family". USL Championship.
  22. Efraín Álvarez at Soccerway
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