Leonel Alvarez (born July 30, 1965 in Remedios , Colombia) is a Colombian football defensive midfielder, one of the best in the country's history.

Alvarez began his career with Independiente Medellín in 1983. He has also played for Veracruz (Mexico), América de Cali, Atlético Nacional, Real Valladolid (Spain), and Deportes Quindio . He won the Colombian championship with América de Cali in 1992.

Alvarez signed with Major League Soccer before the league's inaugural 1996 season, and was allocated to the Dallas Burn. In his first year with the team, Alvarez was clearly one of the league's best players, as he scored three goals and five assists for the team from a defensive midfield position, and was named to the MLS Best XI. Unfortunately for the Burn, Alvarez moved to Mexico for the 1997 season, where he played for Veracruz. He did not return until 1998, when he quickly recovered his starting position; Alvarez would be an extremely important player in the Burn's central midfield for the next two years, but near the end of 1999, was traded to the New England Revolution for Ariel Graziani. Alvarez would play for the Revolution through 2001, always an important starter, before the team decided not to renew his contract for the 2002 season.

Alvarez appeared in a total of 101 games for the Colombia, making his debut February 14, 1985 against Poland. He appeared for Colombia in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, playing in a total of seven games. Additionally, he played in Copa Américas for Colombia in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1995.