Julián Álvarez is enjoying a sensational season with Atlético Madrid, and his recent performance against Rayo Vallecano further confirmed his rise. The Argentine striker scored in his team’s 3-0 win, surpassing Vinícius Jr. in the combined goals and assists (G/A) tally for the 2024-25 LaLiga campaign.

Julián Álvarez overtakes Vinícius Jr. in goals and assists in LaLiga

Álvarez’s display against Rayo didn’t just help Diego Simeone’s side return to winning ways, it also pushed his goal count to 15, with two assists added, totaling 17 goal contributions — one more than Vinícius, who has 11 goals and 5 assists with Real Madrid.

This puts the former Manchester City player in sixth place in the league’s G/A rankings, a list currently topped by Robert Lewandowski with 27. Kylian Mbappé (25) and Raphinha (24) follow closely behind in second and third place, respectively.

Álvarez’s goal against Rayo also marks a personal milestone — it's his most prolific scoring season in a European league since arriving on the continent in 2022. His previous best was 11 league goals for City in 2023-24. Overall, the 2022 World Cup winner now has 27 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions in his debut season with Atlético, surpassing the 24 he scored for River Plate in 2021.

While Vinícius Jr. has shown flashes of brilliance this season, his campaign has been slightly inconsistent. Meanwhile, Julián Álvarez has become a crucial figure for Simeone, praised for not only his finishing but also his movement, pressing, and playmaking.

Up next for the Argentine striker is a visit to Alavés on Saturday, May 3. Atlético Madrid currently sit third in the table, ten points behind league leaders Barcelona, in a LaLiga title race that still holds room for surprises.