Julian Alvarez sends message to Man City and Erling Haaland with incredible 26-pass goal

Julian Alvarez might not score many easier goals than his strike for Argentina on Tuesday night. He will certainly score better goals and in bigger games. He couldn't have timed this close-range finish any better, however.

Starting for Argentina on the right-wing ahead of Lionel Messi, in their final warm-up game before the World Cup, Alvarez had a point to prove after a bright cameo in their win over Honduras last week. Not only was there a place in Qatar to win, but Alvarez could have benefitted from a statement performance to take back to Manchester City.

On a night where Erling Haaland failed to score or assist in a game for the first time this season, Alvarez did his best Haaland impression for Argentina with an impressive performance.

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Argentina were expected to beat Jamaica, of course, but the manner of their first goal would have been hard for any side to defend. It looked remarkably similar to the type of goal City have scored for fun under Guardiola, and it was Alvarez with the crucial finish in the six-yard box from a clever cut-back.

Keeping possession smartly, Argentina moved the ball from right to left, unafraid to go back to their defenders, with all outfield players involved in the slick 26-pass move. This wasn't pointless possession football, but passing and moving to drag Jamaican defenders out of position, and waiting for the moment to make the right pass forward.

As it happened, it was former City defender Nicolas Otamendi to trigger the switch from keeping the ball to attacking the defence, as he split the lines and set Argentina on their way. When the ball was played into Lautaro Martinez's feet on the edge of the area,