Argentine forward Julián Álvarez, currently playing for Atlético de Madrid, has once again addressed the controversial penalty shootout incident during the Champions League round of 16 match against Real Madrid. Speaking to Sports Center on ESPN, the striker revealed that he has watched the play "a thousand times" and insisted that he did not feel he had touched the ball twice. He also called for greater clarity in the rule governing such situations.

The incident took place on March 12, when Álvarez took Atlético de Madrid’s fourth penalty in the shootout. However, as he struck the ball, he slipped, causing the ball to take an unusual trajectory and end up in the net. After a VAR review, referee Szymon Marciniak ruled that there had been a double touch, disallowing the goal and putting the Rojiblancos at a disadvantage. Ultimately, Atlético was eliminated after losing the shootout.

Julián Álvarez: "I watched the penalty a thousand times, I don't feel it"

The Argentina national team striker reiterated that the play remains questionable and that, in his view, there was no intentional advantage.

"I watched it a thousand times, there are videos everywhere. Honestly, I don’t feel it, because if there were two touches, the contact is minimal and very hard to perceive," the forward explained after Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Additionally, the former River Plate player questioned how the rule is applied and suggested it should be reviewed to prevent ambiguous interpretations in the future.

"I think the rule should be a bit clearer. I’m not trying to gain an advantage, and for example, when a goalkeeper moves off his line in a penalty, the shot is retaken. This wasn’t about gaining an advantage. It’s a shame what happened," he added.

That missed penalty proved decisive for Atlético de Madrid, as they failed to recover and were ultimately eliminated. Meanwhile, Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals, adding another chapter to their long history of success in the Champions League.

Despite the bitter experience in European competition, Julián Álvarez remains a key player for both his club and the Argentina national team, where he is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming World Cup. Now, the striker and his team are focused on future challenges as they aim to compete at the highest level.