Argentina Prepares for Life After Messi
As Lionel Messi edges towards the end of his extraordinary international career, Argentina are staring at a future without the player who has defined an era – and their dressing room knows it.
Alexis Mac Allister did not try to dress it up. The gap Messi will leave is not just big; it is immeasurable.
“The words for Messi are always the same: gratitude, and the realisation that there will never be another like him,” he told ESPN, summing up the mood inside the world champions’ camp.
Messi will walk away as Argentina’s all-time record appearance holder and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 caps, the undisputed face of their 2022 World Cup triumph.
They have ridden his genius for nearly two decades. Now they have to learn to live without it.
Argentina braced for life after Messi
For Mac Allister, the emotion of Messi’s looming farewell sits alongside a clear tactical warning. Argentina cannot just swap one superstar for another. There is no like-for-like.
“We’ve enjoyed our time with him immensely. We’re also grateful to him for everything he’s helped us win. It’s sure to be a very emotional occasion,” he said, before turning to the hard reality of what comes next.
“It will be a different process with new players coming in. We need to start realising that the best player in the world, the one who made all the difference, won’t be there anymore, and that we’ll have to grow stronger as a team.”
That is the crux. Messi has so often been the solution, the late pass, the decisive goal, the calm in the storm. The next Argentina will have to spread that responsibility across the pitch, not wait for one man to fix everything.
Ballon d’Or backing for a national icon
If this is the final chapter of Messi’s international story, Mac Allister believes it deserves another individual crown.
Asked about his captain’s chances of claiming the Ballon d’Or again, the midfielder did not hesitate.
“As Argentines we’d love for Messi to win it. He had an incredible World Cup and I don’t see why he shouldn’t be awarded it,” he said. “We all know that Leo has always prioritised the team over individual achievements, so it wouldn’t be a big deal for him.”
The message was clear: whether Messi cares or not, his teammates think his World Cup heroics still warrant football’s biggest individual prize.
Uncertainty at Anfield
While Messi’s horizon is defined by legacy, Mac Allister’s own future looks far less settled.
Away from the national team, the Liverpool midfielder has been open about his frustration that the club have not yet moved to extend his deal, particularly after fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai secured new contracts.
He stayed put in the summer despite chances to leave Anfield. The commitment on the pitch has never wavered. The long-term picture, though, remains cloudy.
“There’s no firm decision yet. I still have two years left on my contract,” he explained. “As I said, I’m going to give it my all. A lot can happen in that time; there are plenty of options.”
No ultimatums. No public demands. Just a player keeping his options open while continuing to anchor one of the Premier League’s biggest midfields.
Mac Allister still talks about Liverpool with obvious affection.
“Hopefully it’ll be for more years, but if it’s just two, I’ll have to enjoy them with my family, because I have no doubt that I’m at one of the best clubs in the world.”
Argentina preparing for life after Messi. Mac Allister weighing his next step at one of Europe’s giants. Two careers, two crossroads – and the sense that the decisions made now will shape club and country for years to come.
