On June 28th in Belo Horizonte, Chile nearly spared Brazil eventual humiliation at the hands of Germany but were cruelly eliminated from the World Cup on penalties. Led by Arturo Vidal and Alexis, Chile were one of the main attractions in their four game stint, providing entertainment at every turn.
Following Chile’s unfortunate exit from the World Cup, Arsenal capitalized on the availability of Alexis and made him the most expensive Chilean player in history by signing him from Barcelona. Since then, Alexis has drawn the adoration of the Emirates crowd, and has scored in each of his last four appearances.
Alexis, known in his home country as ‘El Nino Marvailla,’ or ‘the Wonder Kid,’ has enjoyed a fine start to his Arsenal tenure. Aside from his impressive goal output so far, the Chilean has put on regular clinics in perseverance off the ball, often leading the line of pressing high up the field.
Coming from the boarding school-like environment of Barcelona, Alexis must feel like an absolute rockstar at Arsenal. He is given positional freedom, he’s almost guaranteed a spot in the side, he doesn’t have to drive the same car as the rest of the team, and he’s scoring goals.
Times weren’t always this easy for Alexis.
The third child of four, he was born into poverty in Chile. His father abandoned the family when Alexis was a toddler, leaving his mother to work multiple jobs in order to at least try and provide for her children. She would clean fish for the neighbors and sell flowers in her spare time just so the family wouldn’t starve.
From the age of six, Alexis was always working. To make whatever he could, the youngster would perform acrobatics and dance in the street for people’s spare change. Sometimes the tough boy, known to his friends and family back then as ‘the Squirrel’ for his endless reserve of energy, would even box in the streets just to earn a small keep.
When the family didn’t have food, poor Alexis would resort to knocking on the neighbors’ doors looking for a spare piece of bread. They gave him what they could, but poverty was the norm in and around the entire city.
Growing up in Tocopilla, which literally means ‘Devil’s Corner,’ Alexis knew he was destined to be either a fisherman or a miner…that was unless he could escape the hard life he was handed through football.
Not unlike Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis honed his skills as a child in the muddy streets of his hometown. Unable to afford boots, Alexis played barefoot; his remarkable ball control is a testament to the surfaces on which he learned to play football.
Eventually, Alexis was discovered by Club Arauco youth coach Alberto Toledo, who insisted on bringing the youngster to the club. There wasn’t a chance in hell Alexis could pay the club fees, but Toledo couldn’t turn down the chance to bring in a lad with such irresistible quality.
One game, unable to find transportation to the match on time, Alexis arrived late to discover his team had already gone down 1-0. Like Bobby Boucher arriving at halftime in the Bourbon Bowl, Alexis came on and scored eight goals, more than enough to atone for his tardiness.
It’s no surprise Alexis plays with the conviction and heart that he does. While at Barcelona, Alexis injured himself when Barcelona were down a man and out of subs; Pep Guardiola was furious for having to play with nine men, but how can you be mad at a guy for playing hard?
The way he plays on the pitch is representative of a life of hardship. Nothing has ever come easy for the Chilean, and he of all people knows hard work can get you everywhere in life.
The one thing every Arsenal fan can agree on is how impressive Alexis’ work rate is. His upbringing molded him into this tireless superstar, and Arsenal should rest easy that they have a player of massive character at the Emirates.
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