Mac Allister: Argentina have got it all

Everything changed for Argentina on 18 December 2022, following their FIFA World Cup™ final victory over France in Qatar. La Albiceleste ended a 36-year wait by getting their hands on the prestigious trophy, as Lionel Messi led his side to glory after four unsuccessful attempts, sparking celebrations like never before.

While the title of world champions comes with increased pressure, with the last side to win back-to-back World Cup crowns being Brazil in 1958 and 1962, Argentina head to the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States hoping to hold onto top spot in style.

Most of Lionel Scaloni's squad, who will play in Group J against Austria, Jordan and Algeria, will have at least two major international competitions under their belts, which Alexis Mac Allister believes gives them a solid foundation. “Of course, having players with experience at the World Cup is always important. I think we’ve got a good mix of experienced players and young players, and everyone is pulling together to get the best results for the country,” he told FIFA.

Mac Allister featured in the starting line-up that edged Mauritania 2-1 in a friendly at La Bombonera - a hastily arranged fixture following the cancellation of a planned meeting with Spain in Qatar. The Liverpool midfielder took his place in the centre of midfield, with Enzo Fernandez to his right, Nicolas Gonzalez to his left, while Thiago Almada and Nico Paz played slightly further forward in a more free-roaming role. 

At 27, Mac Allister looks set to become one of the key men in Scaloni’s team. In Qatar, he kicked off the tournament on the bench against Saudi Arabia, but he was included in the team’s second match, against Mexico, and never left the pitch again. Going from strength to strength, he emerged as one of the best players in the World Cup-winning team. Four years on, his role in the squad remains unchanged, alongside Rodrigo de Paul, Fernandez and Leandro Paredes, but the rise of new talents such as Paz, a more prominent role for Almada and Franco Mastantuono’s breakthrough reflect the team's intense internal rivalry.  

“It’s crucial to have players competing for positions at both club and international level. It always brings out the best in you, and that’s a big deal. As I said before, we’ve got a mix of experienced players and young talent, so we’ll keep working hard to get better,” Mac Allister added.

Despite the underwhelming display against Mauritania, Mac Allister felt the fixture remained helpful. “Friendly matches are valuable for us as a team. We need to focus on doing what we do best, applying the tactics we want to use on the pitch. It’s not about the opposition; we’re focusing on ourselves, like we always do. We’re putting in the hard work in training.

“It was an odd game. It’s tough to say what was missing. Sometimes we were a bit sloppy and had trouble applying pressure, especially in the second half. Still, it was just one game. These things don’t happen very often, so I think we need to stay calm and focus on the next match.” 

On top of being world champions, Argentina came out on top in the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America, after beating Colombia 1-0 in the final, and dominated the South American World Cup qualifiers, putting on some history-making performances that included doing the double over Brazil, with a 4-1 win at the Estadio Monumental and a victory on their fierce rivals' turf at the Maracana.

“Overall, we’ve got it all. We’ve got quality, energy and commitment. I’m not worried in the slightest. If anything, I feel really confident in this team, both in our experienced leaders and in the younger players,” said Mac Allister.