K. Mac Allister
Union St. Gilloise · CONMEBOL Libertadores · Defender · #5 · Argentina · 28 yrs
K. Mac Allister news
Who will step up in the absence of Mohamed Salah?
Liverpool have 32 players out in America, though a handful have only travelled as it was felt best for them to carry on their individual rehabilitation with the squad than at an empty training ground back home. With the World Cup this summer, it's understandable that some key names are still missing though Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch will link up with the squad for the second week of the training camp. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz will be the final players to join up with the squad.
Andoni Iraola addresses Alexis Mac Allister’s Liverpool future after great 2026 World Cup performance
Liverpool's new manager Adoni Iraola made clear he wants to keep Alexis Mac Allister at the club following a great 2026 World Cup performance. Alexis Mac Allister enjoyed a strong 2026 World Cup with Argentina, helping the team reach a second straight final before falling to Spain. That deep run, combined with growing transfer speculation in England, has put his future at Liverpool under scrutiny just weeks before the new Premier League season kicks off. Amid the rumors, new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola addressed the midfielder’s situation directly when asked about the squad ahead of preseason. Rather than dodging the questions, Iraola made his stance on Mac Allister’s future clear. “Alexis has been one of this club’s best players over the last few seasons, he had a great World Cup, and it’s normal for other clubs to want our best players. It always happens, in every transfer window,” Iraola said. He followed that up by shutting down any suggestion he’s open to letting the Argentine leave: “But just as other teams want them, I want them to stay. I’m more focused on signing players than on losing the ones we already have here“. Alexis Mac Allister #20 of Argentina controls the ball during the 2026 World Cup. (Getty Images) Since arriving at Anfield from Brighton in July 2023 for a fee of €42 million, Mac Allister has won a Premier League title and a Carabao Cup with Liverpool, racking up 150 appearances, 19 goals and 20 assists along the way. Last season wasn’t his sharpest by his own standards, with just 5 goals and 5 assists in 55 matches, but he remains a key piece of Iraola’s squad as the coach wants to have a solid first season at Anfield. Iraola about Mac Allister’s return to Anfield The Spanish coach also touched on the timeline for Mac Allister’s return to preseason training, along with that of new signing Victor Munoz, the former Osasuna winger who also reached the World Cup final with Spain. Both players are expected to report later than the rest of the squad given how far their respective countries advanced in the tournament. “The most complicated situation will be Alexis’s, as well as Victor’s, because they played all the way to the end of the tournament. Basically, I understand that they deserve to have their vacation, a rest, and time to train with us,” Iraola said. He added that while the delay will impact their pre-season buildup, it’s a trade-off he’s willing to accept given the physical toll of the tournament. “It will affect the start of his season, but we can’t think only about that. Especially in Alexis’s case, who has played a ton of minutes throughout last season and at the World Cup. He deserves this rest,” he concluded.
Barcola in, Gakpo out? Your Liverpool squad tweaks
Kev: I think we should bring in Alex Scott and ship out Alexis Mac Allister. Zaid: I think Cody Gakpo should leave because he won't play as much since we have Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, but he will still go for a good £75m. James: I believe we should move on and let Cody Gakpo go and we should go for Bradley Barcola after his amazing performances at the World Cup.
Iraola determined to keep Mac Allister and Alisson at Liverpool this season
Coach aims to strengthen with Ekitiké and Bradley outMac Allister has been linked with move to Real MadridAndoni Iraola has said he is determined to keep Alexis Mac Allister and Alisson for his first season as Liverpool head coach and must strengthen a squad that will be without Hugo Ekitiké and Conor Bradley for several more months.The dust had barely settled on Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain when Mac Allister was linked with a move to Real Madrid. Iraola, in Chicago for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US, accepted the midfielder is unlikely to be 100% ready for the Premier League opener at Newcastle due to a post-World Cup holiday. But he allayed doubts over Mac Allister’s long-term future at Liverpool, where he is under contract until 2028, by insisting the 27-year-old is part of next season’s plans. Continue reading...
Alexis Mac Allister takes a subtle shot at Argentina’s haters after 2026 World Cup final loss
Alexis Mac Allister addressed Argentina's critics following the loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup. Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, coming agonizingly close to successfully defending the title. The day after the defeat, Alexis Mac Allister took to Instagram, sharing an emotional letter reflecting on the tournament run, in which he also had a message for those who had criticized Argentina. Much of the message focused on gratitude rather than the result itself. Mac Allister recalled the memories tied to Argentina‘s 2022 title, drawing a parallel to two moments from this tournament that he described as equally unforgettable. The post closed with thanks directed at his family, teammates, friends, and everyone who works behind the scenes with the national team. It was the final line of the letter, however, that stood out most. After thanking Argentine fans for their support, Mac Allister added a pointed message aimed at critics from outside the country. “And thanks as well to those who, from other countries, send us messages mocking us or celebrating our pain. Without meaning to, they help us feel prouder every day to be Argentine,” he wrote. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida por Alexis Mac Allister (@alemacallister) De Paul sends a similar message on Instagram Rodrigo De Paul was another Argentina player who had a message for those who criticized the team. The Inter Miami midfielder addressed the conspiracy theories that circulated throughout the tournament, which claimed Argentina was being favored to win the title. “Today I look at how many people were hoping for this fall, pushing baseless conspiracy theories throughout the whole World Cup to ease their own pain over not being able to experience what all of us Argentines were living, because our smiles bother them, because our ways piss them off… But that only reaffirmed that the passion and love for our jersey can overcome anything…,” De Paul wrote.
Mac Allister’s father sets the record straight on Lionel Messi’s speech before the 2026 World Cup final
Before the 2026 World Cup final, Lionel Messi spoke to his teammates, and his speech sparked plenty of controversy, quickly going viral once the match had ended. Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final left more behind than just the scoreline. In the hours after the match, a tunnel video capturing Lionel Messi‘s final words to his teammates before kickoff began circulating widely on social media, sparking a wave of speculation about what exactly the captain meant. In the footage, Messi is heard telling his teammates: “Calm down, let’s stay calm, guys, let’s just think about playing, calm down, let’s forget about everything, let’s forget about everything, let’s just play“. The clip showed a group of players who looked noticeably tense compared to how they had carried themselves throughout the rest of the tournament, with some visibly emotional in the moments before walking out onto the field. That contrast, paired with the vague wording of Messi’s message, was enough to send the video viral within hours of the final whistle. Amid the growing noise, Carlos Mac Allister, father of midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, decided to step in and clear things up. Speaking in an interview with Radio La Red, he revealed that he had gone directly to his son for an explanation once the rumors started to spread. Leo Messi telling the players before the game to "Stay calm" and "Forget about everything else." "Let’s stay calm, boys. Forget about everything else. Forget about everything. Let’s just think about playing, that’s all." pic.twitter.com/3LNI8WXaIi— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 20, 2026 Mac Allister’s father explanation The Liverpool midfielder’s father admitted that even he briefly entertained doubts about what had happened in the dressing room, until his son’s answer put those theories to rest. “For some journalists, it’s hard to understand that behind a defeat there’s simply a team that played better than you. You end up latching onto something, and the worst part is that it spreads. Yesterday I asked Alexis if something had happened, and I started to doubt it myself…” he began explaining. He then detailed exactly what his son told him about the conversation in the dressing room. “He told me they talked about going out to play in the footballing sense, to keep it on the ground, keep the ball moving, build triangles, and not just lump it forward. That’s what they were referring to. Since then, a lot of doubt has come up over these past few days because of that post that went around, and a lot of people have reached out to me about it,” Mac Allister concluded. The theories circulating on social media Messi’s brief, vague message was enough for fans to build several narratives around it. Some linked it to lingering tension from the build-up to the final, pointing to comments exchanged between both camps and the ongoing debate over the officiating. Other interpretations suggested that Messi had given a farewell-style speech before the match, and that his words caught on camera to his teammates were meant to encourage them and have them forget what had been discussed earlier. However, Mac Allister’s account puts those theories to rest, confirming that the exchange in the dressing room was strictly about the game plan, not anything beyond it.
Patience beats overreliance on Messi: how the final was won and lost
Argentina tried to kill the spectacle and make it a physical battle but Spain refused to take the bait and kept passingA worrying thought as a tepid first half drew to a close: was the half-time show going to be better than the football? This was a slog. Argentina could not match Spain’s possession approach but they had ways to level the playing field. There was physicality from Lionel Scaloni’s side, whose aim was to kill the spectacle before taking control in the second half, and they were allowed to take it to the limit by the Slovenian referee, Slavko Vincic. Alexis Mac Allister could have been booked for an early foul on Dani Olmo and the leniency, together with a pitch not conducive to playing flowing football, allowed Argentina to disrupt Spain’s passing game, creating the conditions for one of the most tedious World Cup finals. Continue reading...
Report: Rodrigo De Paul expected to return to Lionel Messi’s Argentina starting XI for 2026 World Cup final against Spain
Argentina face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, and Rodrigo De Paul could return to the starting lineup alongside Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi will chase his second title when Argentina face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium. For this crucial match, Rodrigo De Paul has a real chance of returning to the starting lineup. According to ESPN’s Martin Arevalo, the Inter Miami midfielder is expected to return to Argentina’s starting lineup against Spain, reclaiming his spot in midfield after starting the semifinal win over England from the bench. Lionel Scaloni is reportedly planning two changes to the side that beat England, both coming on the right side of the field. Alongside De Paul‘s return, Gonzalo Montiel is in line to start at right-back, with Nahuel Molina expected to make way. Argentine insider Gaston Edul reported that while the lineup will be finalized by tomorrow at noon, Scaloni left both Nicolas Gonzalez and Molina out of the starters during Argentina’s final training session. On to glory, again 🔜🏆 pic.twitter.com/GO9Lnqlb7q— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) July 15, 2026 In a press conference ahead of the match, Scaloni confirmed he still hasn’t settled on a team, noting that several players aren’t at 100% and that he’ll wait to see their condition on Sunday before finalizing his lineup. “We’re focused on rest right now. Based on that, we’ll see how they’re doing. Because there are players who aren’t at 100%. We’ll see how they are, and then decide what team we put out on Sunday,” the Argentina coach said. Argentina’s potential lineup Should the reports from Argentina’s insiders be confirmed, this would be the team to face Spain: Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
Enzo Fernández shows real quality for Argentina but Chelsea future is up in the air
Brash midfielder has admirers in Madrid, though his World Cup displays illustrate what he can offer Xabi Alonso’s BluesEnzo Fernández was an unstoppable mix of style and spite during Argentina’s win over England. The midfielder’s first contribution during Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta was to plough into Elliot Anderson and clobber Manchester City’s new £116m signing round the head. He escaped without a booking, though, and made the most of some generous refereeing by showing the other side to his game when Argentina took control after going 1-0 down early in the second half.Much has already been said about England’s attempt to hold on to their lead. A particular frustration for fans who watch the Premier League every week was that not enough was done to disrupt Fernández. The Chelsea midfielder is a wonderful player in possession but can struggle when opponents run past him. That weakness has caused structural issues for Chelsea and will be a factor if they decide to sell the Argentinian this summer. Against England, though, Fernández was given space to do as he pleased during the second half. He pulled the strings next to Alexis Mac Allister and proved his big-game mentality by scoring the equaliser with a bending shot from 25 yards in the 85th minute. Continue reading...
Spain’s defensive wall vs Argentina’s chaos: Breaking down the 2026 World Cup final tactical battle
Spain and Argentina will decide who becomes champion of the 2026 World Cup, in a match that will see two similar tactical systems collide. New York New Jersey Stadium is gearing up to host the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina will look to defend their crown and claim a fourth star, while Spain will chase their second title in history, on North American soil. It promises to be an attractive matchup between two of the tournament’s best sides, both built around a similar strategy: taking ownership of the ball to control possession, though each arrives at the same result in a different way. Luis de la Fuente has Rodri running Spain’s midfield alongside Fabian Ruiz, while further up the pitch, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, and Lamine Yamal lend a hand both in building the attack and in defensive work. That approach has served Spain well so far, generating total control of matches. With an average of 58% possession (according to FIFA’s official figures), they sit first in the tournament’s possession rankings, tied with Turkey. Alex Baena #15 of Spain celebrates a goal with teammate Rodri #16. (Getty Images) That tactical setup also functions as a defensive wall, and paired with a solid back line, it has helped Spain concede just a single goal all tournament, in the 2-1 win over Belgium in the quarterfinals. That statistic gives Spain a chance to make history: if they lift the title and keep a clean sheet against Argentina, they would become the first team in World Cup history to win the tournament having conceded just a single goal throughout the entire competition. Argentina: same strategy, different results On the other side, they’ll face an Argentina side built on the same idea: controlling the ball and dominating the game through midfield, something they’ve shown throughout the tournament with an average of 55% possession, good for sixth in the tournament’s possession rankings. In his setup, Lionel Scaloni deploys Leandro Paredes as the central midfielder, surrounded by Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Rodrigo De Paul, who link up through the middle but can also drift out wide, giving Argentina another option to keep possession on the flanks. Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernandez of Argentina. (Getty Images) That tactical identity has carried them all the way to the tournament’s biggest match, but with one major difference from Spain. While it’s paid off in attack, with Argentina scoring more goals than any other team in the tournament (19), it’s been a different story defensively, where they’ve conceded seven goals, ranking 17th in goals allowed. Even so, Argentina have made up for those defensive shortcomings through their attack, though it hasn’t come easy — they’ve had to grind out the wins that got them to New York New Jersey Stadium for Sunday’s final on July 19. They needed extra time twice — in a 3-2 win over Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and a 3-1 win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals — to advance, while in the 3-2 win over Egypt in the Round of 16 and the 2-1 win over England in the semifinals, they had to produce agonizing late comebacks to get the job done. Without a doubt, it will be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. Beyond marking the first-ever meeting between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, it will see two teams built on the same footballing philosophy chase the sport’s most important title.
Alexis Mac Allister breaks World Cup record as Messi’s Argentina keeps rewriting history
In Argentina's recent victory over England, Lionel Messi once again stole the spotlight with his assists and leadership. However, Alexis Mac Allister has broken a World Cup record, also leaving his mark on the competition's history. Argentina managed to defeat England, producing a brilliant collective performance. Lionel Messi turned the match around. Providing two assists, the 39-year-old star led the comeback alongside Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez. Despite not being in the spotlight, Alexis Mac Allister broke a World Cup record, writing his name into the tournament’s history. According to OptaJoe, via X, formerly Twitter, Alexis Mac Allister has become the player with the longest unbeaten run in World Cup history. Of the 13 matches he has played, he has won 11 and drawn 2, with both draws ending in penalty shootout victories. He made his debut in the competition at Qatar 2022, where he established as an undisputed starter. Without being a player with much spotlight, Mac Allister has already scored two goals and provided two assists in the 13 World Cup matches. However, his impact goes far beyond the statistics. Providing balance between defense and attack, he is one of Argentina’s most complete players, making him a regular starter under Lionel Scaloni. Analyzing the evolution of soccer, Alexis Mac Allister revealed that the sport is becoming more and more physical, making talent essential to reaching the final. In addition, he was the player who covered the most distance against England, 75.5 kilometers, as per Liam Bekker. Thanks to his physical prowess, he has started and has not been substituted in Argentina’s last four matches. Alexis Mac Allister #20 of Argentina controls the ball against Reece James #24 of England. Alexis Mac Allister may play a key role for Argentina vs. Spain Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, all eyes will be on the attacking players. With Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi on the pitch, both will look to create space for their teams and find the back of the net. However, the real battle should take place in midfield, as possession could determine the winner. With that in mind, Alexis Mac Allister could emerge as a key figure for Argentina against Spain. As Argentina’s most complete midfielder, head coach Lionel Scaloni could once again rely on Mac Allister to provide balance to the team. If he manages to impose his all-around talent, they could take control of possession away from Spain. To achieve that, Enzo Fernández’s presence will also be crucial. However, the 27-year-old star will be the one under pressure to once again bring stability to the team.