Julián Álvarez turned 26 on 31 January, a milestone that promised celebration, affection from supporters and, potentially, a decisive performance under the floodlights of La Liga. Atlético Madrid were scheduled to face Valencia that very evening, offering the Argentine forward the perfect stage to mark his birthday with a goal. Instead, the night became another chapter in an increasingly troubling goal drought for one of Argentina’s brightest attacking talents.
Despite finding himself in promising positions, Álvarez failed to convert his chances. More worryingly, he extended what has now become the longest barren spell of his European career. Across La Liga, he has gone 11 consecutive matches without scoring, an unfamiliar and uncomfortable statistic for a striker renowned for his movement, pressing and finishing. Since arriving in Europe, Álvarez has never endured such a prolonged run without finding the net, making this slump particularly stark.
The Valencia match itself began unexpectedly for the forward. Atlético manager Diego Simeone left Álvarez out of the starting eleven, opting instead for fellow World Cup winner Thiago Almada. However, the so-called “Spider” did not remain on the bench for long. In the 22nd minute, an unfortunate collision occurred while defending a corner, as teammate Alexander Sørloth clashed heads with Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby. Sørloth suffered a serious injury and was taken to hospital, forcing Simeone to introduce Álvarez earlier than planned.
Given more than an hour on the pitch, Álvarez worked tirelessly, linking play and pressing from the front, yet the elusive goal continued to evade him. His previous worst spell came in 2024 during his time at Manchester City, when he went 10 matches without scoring. This current run has now surpassed that mark. The problem is not confined to the league either: he has failed to score in the Copa del Rey and has looked subdued in Atlético’s last two Champions League appearances.
The striker’s dip in form has inevitably affected Atlético Madrid as a whole. Lacking a consistent cutting edge, the club finished 14th in the Champions League league phase, forcing them into a knockout play-off to secure a place in the last 16. For a side built on intensity and collective effort, the absence of goals from its leading forward has been keenly felt.
Beyond club football, Álvarez’s struggles are also causing unease in Argentina. With the next World Cup drawing closer, national team coach Lionel Scaloni is monitoring the situation closely. A key contributor to Argentina’s triumph in 2022, Álvarez now appears a shadow of his former self. During a recent visit to Madrid, Scaloni reportedly met Atlético’s Argentine contingent, with local media suggesting that Álvarez’s scoring drought was discussed in detail.
So far this season, the numbers underline the concern:
| Competition | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 18 | 5 | 3 |
| Champions League | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Copa del Rey | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 30 | 11 | 5 |
Álvarez’s last La Liga goal came on 1 November, nearly three months ago. As time passes, the pressure inevitably mounts, both mentally and tactically. Unless the drought ends soon, the burden on the young forward is likely to grow heavier. For Atlético Madrid and Argentina alike, the hope remains that confidence, rather than concern, will soon define Julián Álvarez’s story once more.