As the season nears its conclusion, Julián Álvarez is poised to make his mark in Atlético Madrid’s history books. With 24 goals in his debut campaign, the Argentine striker is just one goal away from surpassing Antoine Griezmann’s debut tally. But even bigger milestones are within reach: Christian Vieri netted 29 in his first season, while Radamel Falcao scored 36 — records Álvarez could still challenge.
In the final stretch of LaLiga, Álvarez will face Valladolid, Las Palmas, Rayo Vallecano, Alavés, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Betis, and Girona, along with FIFA Club World Cup matches against PSG, Seattle, and Botafogo. These opportunities give him plenty of chances to add to his goal count.
While breaking Baltazar’s 42 goals from the 1988-89 season or Pruden’s 46 in 1940 may be a tall order, Álvarez is well on track to become Atlético’s top debut striker of the 21st century. His impressive form has been a rare highlight in an otherwise inconsistent season for the Colchoneros, who are increasingly turning their focus to international competitions.
After scoring in Sevilla, Álvarez stated, “We must keep working until the end.” If he continues his scoring run, the former River Plate and Manchester City forward could end the year as one of Atlético’s most memorable first-season players.
