JULIAN ALVAREZ perfectly replicated a Lionel Messi goal during Manchester City’s Club World Cup final against Fluminense on Friday.
City cruised to a 4-0 win over the Brazilian side to clinch their fifth trophy of the year.
Julian Alvarez scored with his chest in the Club World Cup final
Lionel Messi scored a similar goal in the 2009 Club World Cup
Alvarez opened the scoring just 40 seconds into the match in unusual fashion.
After Nathan Ake’s shot rattled the post, the ball fell straight to the 23-year-old on the edge of the six-yard box.
He quickly adjusted his body before deflecting the ball in with his chest.
However, some fans were quick to point out the major similarities between Alvarez’s finish and a goal scored by Messi in the 2009 Club World Cup.
Against Estudiantes de La Plata, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also scored close to home with his chest.
Similar to how Man City did this term, Barcelona went on to win the competition that year.
Fans took to social media to react, with one person tweeting: “Julian Alvarez just recreated Lionel Messi’s chested goal in the Club World Cup! Same country-man. Same competition. Same manager. Same type of goal.”
Another wrote: “Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez scoring with their chests in a Club World Cup final!”
A third fan added: “Julian Alvarez scoring a goal with his chest in a Club World Cup final, reminds me of Messi.”
While a fourth simply said: “It’s uncanny!”
After Fluminense defender Nino deflected Phil Foden’s shot into goal, Man City doubled their lead in the 28th minute.
Before Alvarez scored again in added time, Foden had virtually sealed the victory with another goal in the second half.