Álvaro Barreal

Barreal began his career with Vélez Sarsfield.^[1][2] 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.^[1][3][4] He netted his first goal on 3 February 2019 against River Plate.^[1]

On 2 September 2020, Barreal signed for Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati.^[5] He signed a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year.^[6] 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.^[7][8][9] Barreal made his debut on 7 October in a 3–0 defeat away to the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park, having replaced Frankie Amaya early in the second half.^[1] Four further appearances, all as a starter, arrived in his first season with the American club.^[1]

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.^[10] Barreal joined 10 other players on the shortlist for the world's "most beautiful goal" of the year.^[10][11] 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.^[12]

On 1 March 2024, FC Cincinnati announced a loan with purchase option on an undisclosed fee to Cruzeiro through December 2024.^[13] He was regularly used for the club during his spell, scoring twice in 42 appearances before departing in December.^[14]

On 6 February 2025, Santos announced the signing of Barreal on a one-year loan deal, with a buyout clause.^[15] After nursing an injury, he made his club debut seventeen days later, replacing Yeferson Soteldo late into a 3–0 away win over Inter de Limeira.^[16]

Barreal scored nine goals for Peixe in the 2025 Série A, being the club's top scorer in the competition.^[17] On 17 December 2025, FC Cincinnati announced his permanent transfer to the club, after certain conditions over an obligatory purchase were met.^[18]

Barreal represented the Argentina U20s at the 2018 COTIF Tournament in Spain.^[19][20] He scored two goals in five games, as Argentina won the tournament.^{[21][22][23][24][25]}

Scouts from the Argentina senior national team visited two FC Cincinnati games in 2023 to assess him for a potential call up to the senior team.^[26]