Alexis Alejandro Sánchez  (born in Tocopilla, Chile, December 19, 1988, age 23 years) is a Chilean national soccer player who plays as a striker for FC Barcelona in La Liga and the Chilean national team. He is nicknamed El Nino Maravilla (Boy Wonder) and is known to have excellent ability in carrying the ball, high speed, and unusual physical strength to a fast wing attackers.


Sánchez started his career as a junior player CD Cobreloa at age 15, in 2003. Two years later he was promoted to the club's first team squad. He played for one season at the club before joining CD Cobreloa to Udinese for a fee of U.S. $ 3 million in May 2006. Sánchez then borrowed to Colo-Colo and River Plate. On July 20, 2011, Sánchez joined FC Barcelona for a fee of € 26 million (plus a bonus) and became the first Chilean player who played for the club.


Sánchez strengthen Chilean national team since April 2006. He became a top score for the Chilean national team currently coached by Marcelo Bielsa 12 goals. As of July 2011, Sánchez has scored 14 goals in 44 appearances with the national team of Chile


Early life

Alexis Sánchez

Sánchez was born in Tocopilla to a family of fishermen. His biological father abandoned Sánchez and his family to go work in a mine, leaving Sánchez to help his family out financially from an early age.


According to his relatives and his closest friends, Sánchez was an extroverted boy at school. Sánchez washed cars in a graveyard to earn some money. His fanaticism for football was shared with all his family, especially with José Delaigue, his uncle-in law and adoptive father. Being a former amateur football player, Delaigue saw great potential in the young Sánchez.
At the age of 15 while playing football with his friends in the neighborhood, he impressed the mayor of Tocopilla, who awarded him his first football boots. The mayor's decision was a worthwhile one, while playing for Tocopilla in a regional tournament, Sánchez dominated, in one particular match he scored 8 goals.


International career


Sánchez made ​​his international debut for the national team against New Zealand on 27 April 2006. He was summoned by coach José Sulantay playing with his country at U-20 Cup 2007 World Cup was celebrated in Canada, reaching a historic performance, finishing in third place tournament.
After participation in the youth championship, he scored his first goal in the era of Marcelo Bielsa in a loss of 2-1 against Switzerland on 7 September 2007. Because the three-month injury that he suffered playing for River Plate, Sánchez spent the first four World Cup qualifying matches. Now fully recovered, he led the FIFA World Cup Chile 2010, a team of star players. His best during qualifying in a 4-0 win over Bolivia, scoring two goals in the victory.
Prior to the 2011 Copa America, Sánchez has scored 2 goals in 4 games against Uruguay and Estonia. On June 29, 2011, he was selected in the squad of 23 players for the Copa America.