There are performances that define a tournament and performances that simply get a team through to the next round.
Alexis Mac Allister’s display against Switzerland in Kansas City fell somewhere in the complicated space between the two — and Argentine media have not been shy about saying so.
Argentina are in the World Cup semi-finals.
Julian Álvarez’s stunning 25-yard rocket in extra time, combined with a controversial Breel Embolo red card that reduced Switzerland to ten men, ensured that Lionel Scaloni’s side will face old rivals England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
The result is what matters.
But the manner of it, and the contributions of individual players within it, are being scrutinised closely back in Buenos Aires.
Mac Allister’s evening produced one of the most debated individual performances of Argentina’s quarter-final campaign.
The Liverpool midfielder, who was born in Santa Rosa and represents one of Argentine football’s most celebrated footballing dynasties, opened the scoring in remarkable circumstances, rising at the back post to glance home Messi’s outswinging corner in the tenth minute.
At just 5-foot-9, the aerial contribution against a towering Swiss defensive line was not something anyone had predicted.
It was powerful, precise, and completely unexpected from a player rarely associated with threat from set pieces.
That moment, however, proved to be the high point of his contribution.
Argentine outlet Clarín awarded Mac Allister a 6/10 — a score that reflected the central contradiction of his night.
“He scored Argentina’s first goal with a great header.”
“But after that, he had a lackluster performance, especially during the period when Switzerland dominated until Embolo’s sending off.”
“He improved somewhat after that.”
Argentine outlet LA NACION also gave Mac Allister a 6/10.
“In the first half, he was much more of an attacking presence than in almost all his other matches.”
“Before the header, he had another good chance where he rushed his shot.”
“His pace slowed as the minutes ticked by.”
“He missed a second chance, also”
No one is denying the importance of the opener.
An early goal against a disciplined Swiss side that had not conceded first in either World Cup qualifying or the tournament itself was genuinely significant.
But the question being asked in Argentina is whether a player of Mac Allister’s calibre should be doing more across 120 minutes of football rather than resting on a single defining moment.
The semi-final against England on Wednesday brings a very different test.
Thomas Tuchel’s side pressed Argentina relentlessly in the 2022 group stage — the last time these nations met.
Mac Allister will need to be present for all 90 minutes, not just the opening ten.
Argentina got through.
Now they must be better.