Alexis Sánchez
Who was Alexis Sánchez?
Versatile forward who scored over 50 goals for Chile's national team and was key to their Copa América victories in 2015 and 2016. He has played for Arsenal, Barcelona, and Inter Milan.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Alexis Sánchez (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez, born December 19, 1988, in Tocopilla, Chile, is a professional football player who plays as a winger or striker. Known simply as Alexis and nicknamed "El Niño Maravilla" (The Wonder Child), he is considered one of the greatest Chilean players ever and among the top forwards of his generation. He has played in several top European leagues for some of the most prestigious clubs in the world.
Sánchez began his professional career at age 15 with Chilean club Cobreloa and then moved to the Italian team Udinese in 2006. His early career included loans to Colo-Colo and River Plate, where he won back-to-back league titles and improved his skills. In 2011, he made headlines with a transfer to Barcelona, worth €37.5 million, making him the most expensive Chilean player at that time. During his three seasons with Barcelona, he won six trophies, including a La Liga title and a Copa del Rey.
He moved to Arsenal in 2014 for £31.7 million and had a very successful Premier League career. At Arsenal, Sánchez won two FA Cups and was named the 2015 PFA Fans' Player of the Year and was also included in the 2015 PFA Team of the Year. After four seasons with Arsenal, he transferred to Manchester United in 2018 via a swap deal, before moving to Inter Milan a year later. At Inter, he won Serie A titles in 2021 and 2024, along with a Coppa Italia. He also spent a season at Marseille in 2022-23 before returning to Inter.
For the Chilean national team, Sánchez has been the standout player of his generation. He made his senior international debut in 2006 at age 18 and has earned 168 caps, becoming both Chile's most capped player and all-time leading scorer with over 50 goals. He was crucial in Chile's biggest successes, leading the team to their first major tournament wins in the 2015 Copa América and the 2016 Copa América Centenario. In the 2015 final, he scored the winning penalty, and his excellent performance in 2016 earned him the tournament's Golden Ball for best player.
Before Fame
Born in the small coastal mining town of Tocopilla in northern Chile, Sánchez had a modest upbringing that shaped his determined character. His talent was obvious from a young age, and he was recruited by Cobreloa's youth academy. The club saw his potential early on and promoted him to the senior team when he was just 15, making him one of the youngest professional players in Chilean football history.
His quick rise in Chilean football caught international attention, with European scouts noticing his speed, technical skills, and versatility. Italian club Udinese signed him in 2006 when he was 18, though they initially loaned him back to South America to gain more experience. His loan periods at Colo-Colo in Chile and River Plate in Argentina were very successful, as he won league titles with both clubs, showing he could perform at the highest level in South American football.
Key Achievements
- Chile's all-time leading goalscorer with over 50 international goals
- Led Chile to Copa América victories in 2015 and 2016, their first major tournament wins
- Won Serie A titles with Inter Milan in 2021 and 2024
- Named 2015 PFA Fans' Player of the Year and selected for PFA Team of the Year
- Most capped player in Chilean national team history with 168 appearances
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored the winning penalty in Chile's first-ever major tournament victory, the 2015 Copa América final against Argentina
- 02.His €37.5 million transfer to Barcelona in 2011 made him the most expensive Chilean player in football history at that time
- 03.He became a professional footballer at Cobreloa when he was only 15 years old
- 04.He won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2016 Copa América Centenario
- 05.He has played in five different top European leagues: Spain, England, Italy, and France