Roberto Alvarado

Mexican footballer (born 1998) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roberto Carlos Alvarado Hernández (born 7 September 1998) is a Mexican professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga MX club Guadalajara and the Mexico national team.[2] He is the youngest player to ever play in Ascenso MX.[3]

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Roberto Alvarado
Personal information
Full name Roberto Carlos Alvarado Hernández[1]
Date of birth (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Guadalajara
Number 25
Youth career
2013–2016 Celaya
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Celaya 50 (8)
2017 Pachuca 9 (1)
2017–2018 Necaxa 26 (2)
2018–2021 Cruz Azul 120 (16)
2022– Guadalajara 125 (27)
International career
2018 Mexico U21 5 (3)
2021 Mexico U23 9 (1)
2018– Mexico 50 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner2019 United StatesTeam
Winner2023 United States–CanadaTeam
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner2025 United States
Runner-up2024 United States
Olympic Games
2020 TokyoTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 April 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 March 2025
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Alvarado started his career with second division Celaya in 2013 until 2017, when he began to play in the top-flight Liga MX where he briefly participated with clubs Pachuca and Necaxa, winning the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League and Clausura 2018 Copa MX, respectively. He joined Cruz Azul in 2018, winning the Apertura 2018 Copa MX, the 2019 Supercopa MX, and the Guardianes 2021 league title.

Alvarado participated with the Mexico U-21 side that received second place at the 2018 Toulon Tournament. Following his international and club performances, he would earn his first senior international appearance with Mexico on 7 September 2018 in a friendly match against Uruguay.

Club career

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Celaya

Alvarado made his professional debut on 25 September 2013 in the Apertura 2013 Copa MX group stage match against Estudiantes Tecos, coming on as a substitute for Guillermo Clemens on the 59th minute in a 1–0 win.[4] Three days later, he made his league debut, also against Estudiantes Tecos, in a 0–0 draw, coming on as a substitute for René García on the 86th minute. He was 15 years, 21 days of age.[5]

Alvarado scored his first professional goal in the 27th minute of a 1–0 win in a Clausura 2014 Copa MX group stage match against Atlas on 18 February 2014.[6] He had unsuccessful trials with English clubs Manchester United and Sunderland in November 2014,[7] and Leicester City in January 2015.[5] It was not until the Apertura 2016 season that Alvarado truly broke out, scoring six goals in 14 games, and catching the attention of Mexican top-flight teams.[8]

Pachuca

Pachuca acquired Alvarado from Celaya for the Clausura 2017 season.[9] He would go on to score his first goal with the team on 3 March 2017 while trailing from behind 1–0 in a 3–2 victory over Tijuana.[10] Although he only played 9 league games in his lone season with Pachuca, he did make two appearances during their CONCACAF Champions League winning campaign in 2016–17.

Necaxa

Necaxa acquired Alvarado in a deal that involved trading away Edson Puch to Pachuca for the Apertura 2017.[11] On 26 August 2017, he would score his first goal with Necaxa, granting the team a 2–1 win over Atlas.[12] On 14 April 2018, he would score the only goal in Necaxa's 1–0 victory over Lobos BUAP.[13] He became a starter during the Clausura 2018 season.[14] In April, he would attain the Clausura 2018 Copa MX against Toluca.[15]

Cruz Azul

On 21 May 2018, Alvarado joined Cruz Azul.[16] On 21 July, he debuted in a 3–0 league victory against Puebla, playing 84 minutes, eventually being substituted out for Misael Domínguez.[17] On 4 August, Alvarado scored his first goal for Cruz Azul in a 1–0 victory against Tigres UANL.[18] Two weeks later, on 18 August, Alvarado notched three assists in a 3–0 victory against León, causing ESPN to run a story calling Alvarado "a leading light for Cruz Azul" despite his young age.[8] By now he had become a sensation, with the Spanish publication Marca calling the teenager a "Heaven-sent jewel" later that week.[19] Midway through the tournament, Alvarado was considered by the press to be one of the best midfielders in the league.[20] In November, he would help Cruz Azul attain the Apertura 2018 Copa MX against Monterrey, his second in a row.[21]

Guadalajara

On 26 December 2021, Alvarado joined Guadalajara in an exchange that saw Uriel Antuna and Alejandro Mayorga join Cruz Azul.[22] On 12 February 2022, he scored his first goal with Chivas against Tigres UANL in a 1–3 defeat.[23]

International career

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Youth

Alvarado was part of the roster that participated at the 2018 Toulon Tournament,[24] where he was the second highest scorer in the tournament with 3 goals, scoring once in the group stage matches against Qatar[25] and China[26] and in the final against England where Mexico lost 2–1.[27] He was called up yet again ahead of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, but Cruz Azul refused to release him for the tournament.[14]

Alvarado participated at the 2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, appearing in all five matches, where Mexico won the competition. He was subsequently called up to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[28] Alvarado won the bronze medal with the Olympic team.

Senior

On 29 August 2018, Alvarado received his first call-up to the senior national team for the friendly matches against Uruguay and the United States.[29] He made his debut on 7 September, coming on as a second-half substitute for Alan Pulido in their 4–1 loss to Uruguay in Houston.[30]

In May 2019, Alvarado was included in Tata Martino's preliminary roster for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[31] The following month, on 5 June 2019, Alvarado scored his first international goal in a 3–1 friendly victory against Venezuela.[32] The following day, he was included in the final list for Gold Cup tournament.[33] He would go on to appear in all matches of the tournament, helping Mexico win the final against rivals the United States.[34]

In October 2022, Alvarado was named in Mexico's preliminary 31-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and in November, he was ultimately included in the final 26-man roster.[35]

Style of play

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A gifted playmaker whose versatility is his strongest suit, Alvarado is predominantly a central attacking midfielder, capable of playing on either flank as well as a second striker.[36] Technically proficient with both feet, playing on the right allowed the opportunity to cut or drift inside onto his favoured left. He has shown an ability to finish from in and around the box, but comparing his shots on target to shots off target suggests that shooting isn't his strongest attribute. Instead, he focuses on creating opportunities. During his time with Necaxa, Alvarado was beating defenders on their left and right sides with a variety of methods. The change of pace is Alvarado's favoured technique, and he excels when there's space behind an opponent to race into, but he can also deceive defenders with close control and, at times, thrilling skill.[37] He is excellent at pulling away from defenders to make himself available for a pass and has a remarkable ability to accurately place floated crosses and through balls.[38] Alvarado plays for his teammates, presses effectively when not in possession and seems to be a balanced character off the field.[8]

He has often been compared to fellow national teammate Diego Lainez, although Alvarado has insisted they both have differing playing styles.[39] Cruz Azul manager Pedro Caixinha has compared Alvarado to João Moutinho.[40]

Personal life

Alvarado is named after the Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos and the Brazilian singer of the same name.[41][42] Alvarado is nicknamed El Piojo (The Louse) because of his idol, Argentine former footballer Claudio "El Piojo" López.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024[43]
More information Club, Season ...
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental[b] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celaya 2013–14 Ascenso MX 504191
2014–15 302050
2015–16 24150291
2016–17 18711198
Total 5081226210
Pachuca 2016–17 Liga MX 9120111
Necaxa 2017–18 Liga MX 262110372
Cruz Azul 2018–19 Liga MX 42412[c]231577
2019–20 27420294
2020–21 3641[d]050424
2021–22 154154
Total 1201613210114319
Guadalajara 2021–22 Liga MX 193193
2022–23 394394
2023–24 3611414012
2024–25 000000
Total 9418419819
Career total 2994536416235151
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  1. Appearances in Copa MX
  2. includes 1 match from the 2019 Supercopa MX
  3. Appearance in 2021 Campeones Cup

International

As of match played 23 March 2025[44]
More information Mexico, Year ...
Mexico
YearAppsGoals
201850
201912[a]3
202020
202161
202270
2023111
202450
202520
Total505
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  1. Alvarado additionally played a match against Martinique in 2019, which is not recognized by FIFA.

International goals

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first.[45]
More information Goal, Date ...
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 June 2019Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, United States Venezuela1–13–1Friendly
2.19 June 2019Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Denver, United States Canada1–03–12019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3.15 October 2019Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Panama1–03–12019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
4.27 October 2021Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, United States Ecuador1–12–3Friendly
5.12 July 2023Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, United States Jamaica3–03–02023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
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Honours

Pachuca

Necaxa

Cruz Azul

Mexico U23

Mexico

Individual

References

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