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On a Spanish football talk show, Atletico Madrid’s manager Diego Simeone featured in a knockout-style game where he was tasked with choosing between pairs of players, with the selected player advancing to the next round. The list was a who’s-who of modern footballers, Julian Alvarez, Jude Bellingham, Mohamed Salah, Joao Palhinha, Cole Palmer, Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha, Erling Haaland, Pedri, Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal. Round after round, Simeone stuck with Alvarez, the 24-year-old World Cup winner who joined Atletico from Manchester City in the summer of 2024. His unwavering loyalty to Alvarez culminated in the young Argentine being crowned Simeone’s favorite player bar one notable exception.
Atletico Madrid’s fiery manager Diego Simeone has sparked headlines with a bold declaration on the Spanish television program El Club Uria, where he named star striker Julian Alvarez as his favorite player, sidestepping a host of global footballing giants and even his own son, Giuliano Simeone. In a candid moment, the Argentine tactician went further, admitting that only one player could eclipse Alvarez in his estimation: the legendary Lionel Messi.
“I just like him, unless you say (Lionel) Messi,” Simeone quipped, cementing his admiration for the former Manchester City forward while reserving the ultimate pedestal for his compatriot, widely regarded as the greatest of all time. “It’s not personal; it’s football,” Simeone reportedly said with a wry smile, diffusing any notion of favoritism toward his son.
Julian Alvarez is fondly known as 'Spider' for his knack of weaving through defenses
Julian Alvarez, nicknamed “La Arana” (The Spider) for his knack of weaving through defenses, is reportedly a linchpin of Simeone’s retooled Atletico side. Since arriving in Madrid, the versatile forward has scored six goals and provided three assists in his first eight matches of the 2025-26 season, thriving in Simeone’s high-intensity, counter-attacking system. His work rate, clinical finishing, and ability to drop deep have drawn comparisons to Ángel Correa’s prime, but with a modern flair that has endeared him to the Wanda Metropolitano faithful. “Julian is special,” Simeone elaborated on El Club Uria. “He’s not just a goal-scorer; he’s a team player who fights for every ball. That’s what we value here,” he further added.
The Messi caveat, however, stole the show. Simeone, an Argentine footballer himself with 106 caps for his country, has never hidden his admiration for Messi, with whom he shares a bond forged through their shared Albiceleste heritage. “Messi is different,” Simeone said, his tone softening. “He’s not just a player; he’s a phenomenon. If you put him in the list, it's no contest,” he added. The comment, delivered with a knowing grin, was a nod to Messi’s enduring legacy, even as the 38-year-old winds down his career with Inter Miami in the MLS, where he continues to dazzle with 12 goals in the 2025 season. Messi’s shadow looms large over football, and for Simeone, no one, not even his prized Alvarez, can match his magic.
