However, that’s not the main idea. Alejandro Garnacho kept things easy while playing the full second half of Argentina’s 3-0 friendly victory over El Salvador. A perfectly timed pass here, an awkward line-breaking dribble there.

Though Garnacho is only 19 years old, the hype surrounding his 45-minute performance was not due to his breaking the net with a Puskas contender as he did at Goodison Park. Not because he exhausted the defense the way he did in the FA Cup quarterfinal vs Liverpool, helping Amad Diallo score the game-winning goal in extra time. However, the adolescent conducted himself with a level of maturity, poise, and composure that belied his years.This performance was a complete contrast to the one the Manchester United prospect gave against Indonesia back in 2023. Garnacho appeared to be a player who was eager to establish himself in June of last year; he was a little too self-centered and made the incorrect decision at the wrong moment. His transformation into a football player who can be counted on to make the right pass at the right moment and who understands when to shoot and when to keep things simple during the past nine months has been nothing short of astounding.

ESPN declared that Alejandro Garnacho had his best performance for Argentina. “And demonstrated that he is capable of competing with the team in the Copa America  (this summer).”

“Compared to those matches (against Australia and Indonesia), he was less circumspect and more encouraged to show off his left-wing skills. Garnacho, who broke a Premier League record the week before against Everton, has been one of Man United’s standout players since the beginning of the year, along with fellow teenagers Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo. Garnacho has terrorized Liverpool’s defense.  The former Atletico Madrid star definitely carried over that form to the international arena, as goals from Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernandez, and Gio Lo Celso—all of whom are based in England—propelled the reigning World Cup winners to an easy victory. Alejandro Garnacho, who was unlucky not to claim an assist when former Manchester United player Angel di Maria failed to convert his well-placed pull-back, “did not waste the chance and once again had an electric performance with the national team,” according to TYC Sports. Prior to the match, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni declared that Garnacho and Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte were being considered for a spot on his Copa America roster. The most recent addition to an ever-expanding series of “electrifying” displays will have done absolutely no harm to his chances.

Scaloni states, “We discussed Garnacho and Buonanotte with (Argentina Under-21 coach Javier Mascherano), as they could have gone with him.” And the senior national team is the top focus in the Copa America, which is why we wanted them here. “Obviously, the reason they are here is because they could go to the Cup. They have a chance because they are performing well in the most significant competition, such as the Premier League. An opportunity that Garnacho seems poised to seize with both hands.