Brighton and Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with Leonel Flores in recent months, and the Boca Juniors youngster has just given them another reason to keep watching.
The 19-year-old made his Argentina debut in their 4-0 win over Bolivia on Wednesday night.
He only got the final few minutes, but that was more than enough. Flores produced a brilliant individual move before setting up Flaco López for Argentina’s fourth goal. He almost added one himself shortly afterwards, only to be denied from a volley.
It’s another big step in a rise which has been ridiculously quick.
Nine minutes were enough
Flores came on in the 81st minute, replacing Exequiel Palacios. And this was his first appearance for Argentina at any level. He hadn’t even represented his country in the youth teams before Lionel Scaloni called him into the senior squad.
Flores touched the ball ten times and completed two dribbles. One of those produced the highlight of his debut… He started the move with a nutmeg behind the halfway line, carried the ball forward and eventually created López’s goal.
The Boca youngster didn’t seem particularly surprised by how comfortable he looked.
“I’ve had quite a lot of personality since I was a kid. When I get the ball, I don’t care who’s in front of me,” he said afterwards, as picked up by As explained in detail by TyC Sports, .
“I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid. I played calmly and with confidence.”
That’s something Brighton and Tottenham scouts may appreciate, as both have been repeatedly linked with Flores since his breakthrough at Boca.
From fifth tier to Argentina in a year
Perhaps the best way of explaining Flores’ rise is to go back almost exactly 12 months. MDZ points out that on September 29th, 2025, he was playing for Boca’s reserve team, which plays in the fifth division. He scored twice in a 6-0 victory against Racing’s academy.
Flores had actually dropped back down the academy after a difficult period. He had been sent off for a bad challenge in a reserve semi-final against Vélez. Now fast forward a year and he’s playing for the world champions.
Even his position has changed along the way. As we explained earlier this year, Flores spent much of his academy career as a No. 9. Since breaking into Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s senior side, he’s made the right wing his own.
According to TyC Sports, he now has three goals and two assists from his first 17 senior appearances for Boca. Those numbers have come in barely more than two months of first-team football. And now he’s already producing for Argentina too.
Scaloni tells Boca to look after him
Scaloni was clearly impressed with what he saw.
“It’s something he does very well. We have to look after him, that’s the important thing,” the Argentina manager said.
“We have to support him. I know that at Boca, Vasco [Arruabarrena] and Mono Markic, who are friends of mine, treat him well. They know how to handle him. He’s a talent who needs to be looked after.”
Scaloni also explained that Argentina simply asked Flores to reproduce what he’s been doing for Boca.
“In Leonel Flores’ case, we asked him to come here and do the same thing he does for his club. He does it very well and we have to look after him. He’s at an age where you have to follow him closely.”
Scaloni even mentioned Flores alongside Franco Mastantuono when discussing Argentina’s young talents.
For Brighton and Tottenham, his progress has been very quick indeed. When the English links started, Flores was a teenager enjoying his first proper run in Boca’s senior side.
He’s now a regular on the right wing and an Argentina international. Nine minutes into his international career, he had an assist as well.
