Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who is seemingly elevated after being named in the Argentina squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, has opened up on his relationship with the team’s captain Lionel Messi. The La Albiceleste are in fine form ahead of the global showpiece and are one of the huge favourites to lift the world title. Their manager Lionel Scaloni has accordingly named a stacked squad, which is spearheaded by Messi and also includes Mac Allister.
Mac Allister has earned his call up after some blistering displays for the Seagulls, having scored 4 goals in 13 Premier League appearances so far. Since his breakthrough 20/21 season with Brighton, the 23-year-old has now become a crucial part of the club helping them surge up to the sixth place in the Premier League this season. The highly rated midfielder has also made 7 appearances for Argentina, and now looks set to represent them in Qatar.
Mac Allister speaks about Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup chances
Man Allister is yet to play alongside Lionel Messi in the Argentina team, but will be hoping to achieve the feat in Qatar this year. The PSG superstar will be in full throttle at this year’s World Cup, as he will be looking to add the golden trophy to his repertoire. Messi broke the jinx of not winning an international trophy with Argentina last year by steering them to Copa America triumph, and this time will certainly put all his efforts to win the trophy he came close to in 2014.
The Brighton man too will want to help his captain, as well as make an impact on the global stage. Mac Allister recently spoke to Sky Sports about his nation’s preparations for the tournament, and how other favourites would fare. The midfielder also shed light on what its like to share a dressing room with Lionel Messi, if not the pitch so far. Speaking to Sky Sports about other possible candidates to lift the World Cup, Mac Allister said:
“I think Brazil is a very strong national team, France and England has some very good players, but there are a lot of very good teams. It will be a very hard World Cup, and I don’t think we are favourites, but it will be hard for everyone.”
On his relationship with Lionel Messi, the Brighton no.10 said:
“To play with Messi is a dream. It was amazing the first time. To be honest, off the pitch, I don’t speak too much with him because I’m a very shy guy and I don’t want to bother him! He’s really nice, quiet, he has good relations with everyone there, so it’s amazing to have him, that he’s Argentinian and hopefully it will not be his last World Cup.”
Earlier this year as well, Mac Allister had shared an insight about his equation with the all-time top scorer of Argentina. He told The Athletic:
“I trained with him when I was in the Argentinian squad twice, but I didn’t play with him. It was fantastic, the same as in the matches he trains. It’s something you cannot believe. I remember everyone called me ‘Colo’, which is ginger in Argentina. I don’t like it much and he told the team-mates that. He said, ‘He doesn’t like to be called Colo, so don’t call him that!’.
“I was red, completely red. I didn’t want even to say hello. I was really nervous even to meet one of the best players in the world, but it was fantastic, of course. It’s something I’m not going to forget. It was magic when my dad played with Maradona and I could train with Lionel Messi. We are very proud of it.”
As evident, Lionel Messi is certainly a man who roots for his teammates, and wants to achieve the glory with them. Argentina are even predicted by EA Sports’ FIFA 23 to go all the way and win the World Cup, as they have got their previous three predictions about Spain [2010], Germany [2014] and France [2018] on point. And with Messi in a sublime form ahead of the tournament, with 11 goals and 14 assists in 17 games for PSG, this could well be his year.