Alexis Mac Allister put his Liverpool struggles behind him with an outstanding start to the World Cup with Argentina, on a night where Lionel Messi starred.
Messi scored all three goals as Argentina thumped Algeria 3-0, becoming the joint-top goalscorer in World Cup history.
The best player of all time is now tied with Miroslav Klose with 17 tournament goals, with it almost certain he sets a new record in the coming weeks.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni started Mac Allister in a rotating three-man midfield with Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo de Paul – and was rewarded with an excellent display.
The Liverpool No. 10 played the full 90 minutes, keeping things tidy with 60 of his 64 attempted passes reaching their intended target (94%).
Per FotMob, Mac Allister had the second-most shots (two) of any Argentina player and the second-most touches in the opposition’s box (two).
It was his long-range strike which led to Messi’s second goal of the game, with a low, fizzing effort forcing a parry from goalkeeper Luca Zidane into the striker’s path to make it 2-0.
Messi then got his third and rounded off the victory with a low shot into the bottom corner for his 120th goal in 200 games for Argentina.
Argentina’s next opponents, Austria, came away with a 3-1 win over World Cup debutants Jordan hours later to set up a tense clash on Monday.
How the Argentine media rated Mac Allister vs. Algeria
2M208Y7 Doha, Qatar, 13th December 2022. Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2022 match at Lusail Stadium, Doha. Picture credit should read: David Klein / Sportimage
Mac Allister received a harsh six out of 10 rating from Ole‘s Hernan Claus, who wrote: “He and Enzo combined perfectly in the centre circle, tackled fiercely, and arrived in the box to finish off every attack.”
GOAL‘s Alex Labidou was less effusive in his praise but awarded the midfielder a seven out of 10, having “played an effective match on both sides of the ball.”
The 27-year-old has been touted with a move away from Liverpool this summer as he enters the final two years of his contract.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister ties his boot lace before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With no talks over an extension it is understandable that Mac Allister would be exploring his options, but his composed performance for Argentina does raise the question of whether last season’s struggle was his own.
Few players were at their best in Arne Slot‘s system and most have already roared into life with their national teams at the World Cup.
Mac Allister’s future is likely to hinge on talks with Andoni Iraola later in the summer, but a standout World Cup could certainly improve his chances of remaining key for Liverpool.