In recent years, thereâs been a noticeable trend of European-born players with Argentine roots choosing to represent the Albiceleste, despite having other options like Spain or Italy. Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Paz are prime examples, both rejecting Spain to answer Lionel Scaloniâs call for Argentina.
Even Neal Maupay, who was once called up by France, and Pablo Maffeo, who received a November 2023 Argentina call-up but didnât play, have publicly stated their preference for playing for Lionel Messiâs team.
Meanwhile, players like Mateo Retegui have gone the opposite route, opting for Italy after finding no room in Argentinaâs stacked roster. This echoes past decisions from Mauro Camoranesi and Pablo Osvaldo, who both represented Italy under similar circumstances.
On the flip side, Brazil has seen an intriguing case emerge. Enzo Alves, the son of Real Madrid legend Marcelo Vieiraâwho earned 58 caps for Brazil and won the 2013 Confederations Cupâhas chosen to represent Spain. Born in Madrid during Marceloâs storied tenure with Los Blancos, Enzo has embraced his Spanish roots over his Brazilian heritage.
The young striker has already made waves in Spainâs youth setup, tallying five appearances for the U-15s, one for the U-16s, and three for the U-17s. Most recently, he found the back of the net during Spainâs 3-3 draw against Austria in the UEFA U-17 European Championship qualifiers.
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Enzo Alves shines in Real Madridâs youth ranks
Likely influenced by his father, Marcelo, Enzo Alves has carved out a promising path at Real Madrid. Already part of the clubâs youth setup, the striker signed a contract that keeps him at the academy until mid-2027.
Last season, Enzo netted an impressive 32 goals in just 14 matches for his age group, showcasing his elite scoring ability. Now playing for Real Madrid Juvenil C, heâs taken another step forward in his development.
His promotion to the U-17s could pave the way for him to compete in the UEFA Youth League in the near future, signaling a bright future for the young talent.
