Efrain Alvarez, forward
A Homegrown player, Efrain Alvarez has made 30 appearances (10 starts) for the LA Galaxy over the last two seasons. When he signed as a 16-year-old in 2018, Alvarez was the seventh-youngest player to join the league. Debuting for the first team on the opening day of the 2019 season, Alvarez assisted on the game-tying goal in a 2-1 comeback win against the Chicago Fire. This season, he tallied his first MLS goal in a 3-2 victory against the Portland Timbers on Sept. 2, 2020.
Alvarez, now 18, was a key member of the Galaxy academy squad that reached the 2017 U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-17/18 Championship match. He earned a reputation as a clutch performer at the tournament, scoring in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the competition.
Born in the USA to Mexican parents, Alvarez can play for either country. He has represented both nations at the international youth level. He previously played for the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team in 2016 and represented Mexico at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Because he played for El Trí in official competition, Alvarez would have to file a one-time switch with FIFA in order to represent the United States and is currently ineligible to play in the Dec. 9 friendly against El Salvador.
