“¡Gracias, vieja!” Julián Álvarez y su homenaje a Di Stéfano || By Juan Pablo Varsky - Let’s Go

Juan Pablo Varsky opens his editorial with the title of Alfredo Di Stéfano's autobiography and finds in Julián Álvarez an heir to that ideal of the complete footballer: generous, selfless, and capable of covering every corner of the pitch. "He's that superhero without an ounce of vanity," he says, recalling the famous definition of the "105 by 70" generation of Argentine footballers. The 3-1 victory over Switzerland, which secured Argentina's place in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, featured Julián as its star player. His goal in the 112th minute capped a performance that should serve as an example for youth divisions: the team above any individual prominence. A philosophy that even leads him to compare Álvarez to Manu Ginóbili. It reviews his journey from River Plate's youth academy to his breakout at Manchester City and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, focusing on the stunning goal that secured a hard-fought qualification in a match where Argentina once again found a way to win despite not creating many chances. It also highlights the tremendous work of Alexis Mac Allister, the defensive contribution of Lisandro Martínez, and the influence of Leandro Paredes in one of the decisive plays. The introduction of Thiago Almada changed the course of extra time, while the team's intelligent play paved the way for Julián's goal and, later, for Lautaro Martínez's decisive strike. Now England awaits in a historic semifinal that will be a rematch of a World Cup classic and will feature, as in Italy 1990, four former world champions among the tournament's best. Once again, a defining characteristic of this era is evident: they always find a way to win. This time, it was his teammates who pushed Messi, not the other way around as we'd seen in previous matches. The closing is intimate and emotional. On the anniversary of his mother's birth, who passed away in 2016, he dedicates a few words of gratitude to her and borrows the title of Di Stéfano's book to sum it all up: “Thank you, Mom!” Another complete editorial by Juan Pablo Varsky after another unforgettable night for the Argentine National Team.