| Gilbert Álvarez | |
| Fullname: | Gilbert Álvarez Vargas |
| Birth Date: | 7 April 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Santa Cruz, Bolivia |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Oriente Petrolero |
| Clubnumber: | 91 |
| Youthyears1: | 2005–2008 |
| Youthclubs1: | Club Calleja |
| Years1: | 2008 |
| Clubs1: | Club Calleja |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2008–2011 |
| Clubs2: | Cruzeiro |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2011 |
| Clubs3: | The Strongest |
| Caps3: | 6 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2012–2013 |
| Clubs4: | Guabirá |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2014–2016 |
| Clubs5: | Real Potosí |
| Caps5: | 62 |
| Goals5: | 27 |
| Years6: | 2016–2018 |
| Clubs6: | Jorge Wilstermann |
| Caps6: | 78 |
| Goals6: | 34 |
| Years7: | 2018 |
| Clubs7: | Al-Hazem |
| Caps7: | 9 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2019–2021 |
| Clubs8: | Jorge Wilstermann |
| Caps8: | 61 |
| Goals8: | 28 |
| Years9: | 2022 |
| Clubs9: | Royal Pari |
| Caps9: | 37 |
| Goals9: | 10 |
| Years10: | 2023 |
| Clubs10: | Palmaflor del Trópico |
| Caps10: | 20 |
| Goals10: | 8 |
| Years11: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs11: | Arema |
| Caps11: | 7 |
| Goals11: | 2 |
| Years12: | 2024– |
| Clubs12: | Oriente Petrolero |
| Caps12: | 17 |
| Goals12: | 8 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2009 |
| Nationalteam1: | Bolivia U17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 3 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2009– |
| Nationalteam3: | Bolivia |
| Nationalcaps3: | 31 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 5 |
| Club-Update: | 3 August 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 28 June 2021 |
Gilbert Álvarez Vargas (born 7 April 1992) is a Bolivian professional footballer who plays as a forward for División Profesional club Oriente Petrolero.
Álvarez played for several youth teams in his home city of Santa Cruz in Bolivia, including Club Destroyers and Club Calleja.[1]
In August 2010, Álvarez was signed by Cruzeiro of Brazil.[2] [3] He did not play a first team game for Cruzeiro prior to the 2011 Copa America, and he was not named in Bolivia's squad for the tournament.[4]
In August 2011, Álvarez announced that he was considering a move to Europe, citing that talks between his agent and one club in Germany and another in Italy were underway.[5]
On 25 November 2023, Álvarez joined Indonesia club Arema.[6] However, on 7 March 2024, Álvarez would leave the club early, cited that he wants to be closer with his family as the reason.[7]
During his time with Callejas, he was called up by the Bolivia U17 to play as their lone striker in the 2009 South American U-17 Championship. He scored three goals in the tournament, including a double against Ecuador under-17s in the final group stage.[8] [9]
Later in 2009, as a 17-year-old, Álvarez was called up to the senior Bolivia side.[10] He made his first senior international appearance as a substitute against Venezuela in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 6 June 2009.[11] He gained a second cap the following year in a 5–0 friendly match defeat to Mexico in February 2010.[12]
Scores and results list Bolivia's goal tally first.[13]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 June 2017 | Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 1–0 | Friendly | |
| 2. | 7 June 2017 | Estadio Provincial de Yacuíba, Yacuíba, Bolivia | align=center | 2–2 | align=center | 3–2 | ||
| 3. | 31 August 2017 | Estadio Monumental "U", Lima, Peru | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | 1–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 4. | 10 October 2019 | Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela | align=center | 1–3 | align=center | 1–4 | Friendly | |
| 5. | 15 October 2019 | Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia | align=center | 3–1 | align=center | 3–1 |
Álvarez comes from a large family, being the fifth of thirteen children. He harbours aspirations to play in Europe, declaring in a 2009 interview that he was delighted by reported interest in his signature from Lazio and that his ultimate ambition was to play for Manchester United.[14] He is the brother of soccer players William and Sebastián Álvarez.[15]