The forward has scored 17 goals and provided four assists in LaLiga last season, while also directly contributing to eight goals in 10 UEFA Champions League matches, including seven goals and one assist.

Despite his contributions to Atleti's attack, it was not enough for Alvarez to earn a spot on the 11-player shortlist for FIFA's The Best award.

Simeone, however, paid no attention to that, rather praising Alvarez's quality and choosing to focus on Atleti's upcoming clash against Levante instead.

"I'm not the one who makes those decisions, for us, he's a very important player, one of the best in the world," Simeone said of his man.

"We have him and we have to take care of him. I hope he continues to give us what he is giving us.

"With a lot of respect, I focus on Levante, they work well defensively, they have fast people from midfield moving forward.

"We have to take the game to where we can hurt them. I can't imagine another game that is not like the ones they have played against us as visitors before."

Levante is currently 16th in LaLiga, 12 places behind Atletico, after winning just nine points from its opening 11 matches.

It has failed to win any of its past three matches in the Spanish top flight, but did progress to the third round of the Copa del Rey with a win over Orihuela.