A classic striker’s goal — perfectly timed and positioned.
With his dominant left foot, Alejo Sarco sent the ball into the back of the net just two minutes into the first half. He even caught his parents, Marcelo Sarco and Carina Castro, by surprise — they stood frozen for a few seconds in the stands of Chile’s National Stadium before erupting in celebration. It was the opening goal in Argentina’s 4–0 victory over Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
With four goals scored in the tournament, Sarco now leads the scoring charts and has solidified his role as a key figure in Diego Placente’s Argentine side.
“The truth is that Alejo is our main reference in attack. The others have different qualities, but they also score. We rotate sometimes, but we like having a true number nine,” said the Argentina U-20 head coach.
INSPIRED BY LAUTARO
In his role, Alejo Sarco draws inspiration from his compatriots Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, both known for their intelligence, work ethic, and style of play.
“They’re two great examples — both in their clubs and with the national team. I follow them closely; they’re complete players, and I try to watch and learn from them,” said the 19-year-old forward.
Born on January 6, 2006, in Alberti, a town in the Buenos Aires province, Sarco was encouraged by his father to play football from an early age.
“We’ve always played together since he was little – I used to beat him, but not anymore,” laughed Marcelo.
As a child, playing football with his father quickly stopped being just a game and became a dream.
“He must have been around seven or eight when his mother asked, ‘What will you study when you grow up, Alejo?’ And he’d say, ‘I’m not going to study – I’m going to be a football player,’” recalled his father. Alejo began his career in the Vélez Sarsfield youth academy and made his first-team debut in 2024.
In January 2025, he was signed by Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. His parents moved with him and have continued to accompany the young striker to every competition.
Wrapped in an Argentine flag, holding a rosary, and wearing sneakers gifted by her son with the words “Siempre a mi lado” (“Always by my side”) written on them, Carina Castro watches every match.
For the family, faith is both a bond and a source of strength through football.
“Having faith brings me peace — it helps me calm my nerves,” said Carina.
“It’s something very important to me. I believe faith is the last thing you lose in football, and I always rely on God,” added Alejo.
REDEMPTION
The 4–0 win over Nigeria served as redemption for Argentina, who were eliminated by the same opponent in the Round of 16 of the 2023 U-20 World Cup, held in Argentina. Now, the team will face Mexico this Saturday in the quarterfinals at Chile’s National Stadium.
“I think we’re living a dream. Playing in a World Cup isn’t something that happens every day, and we’ll try to go as far as possible,” said Sarco, who continues to look up to Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez — the 2022 World Cup champions — as his greatest inspirations.
@ AIPS