Álvaro Martín Barreal (born 17 August 2000) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a Wing-back for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
Club career
Vélez Sarsfield
Barreal began his career with Vélez Sarsfield. Gabriel Heinze promoted the midfielder into the club's first-team squad at the beginning of 2018–19, selecting him for his professional debut on 2 September at La Bombonera against Boca Juniors; he was substituted on for Lucas Robertone with thirty-two minutes remaining. He netted his first goal on 3 February 2019 against River Plate.
FC Cincinnati
On 2 September 2020, Barreal signed for Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati. He signed a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. Reports out of Argentina listed the transfer fee in the range of $1.5 to 1.7 million for 75 percent of the player's rights, with Vélez Sarsfield retaining 25 percent of any future sale. Also noted was the potential of $250,000 additional for a set number of appearances. Barreal made his debut on October 7 in a 3–0 defeat away to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park, having replaced Frankie Amaya early in the second half. Four further appearances, all as a starter, arrived in his first season with the American club.
In September 2023, Barreal was nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award for his 71st minute goal scored against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals. Barreal joined 10 other players on the shortlist for the world's "most beautiful goal" of the year. He was the fourth active MLS player to be nominated for the award, and the first since a 2018 goal by Zlatan Ibrahimović for LA Galaxy.
International career
Barreal represented the Argentina U20s at the 2018 COTIF Tournament in Spain. He scored two goals in five games, as Argentina won the tournament.
Scouts from the Argentina men's national football team visited two FC Cincinnati games in 2023 to assess him for an potential call up to the senior team.