Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister started and played 78 minutes in Argentina vs Benin, with the friendly marking the final appearance for Lionel Messi at that level
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina(Image: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister started in Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina, with the Liverpool man playing 78 minutes and 'earning' a perfect score.
But all was not as it seemed, as the Argentine outlet TyC Sports issued some bizarre player ratings in a routine 3-0 victory over Benin. Every player, Mac Allister included, scored 10/10 to mark Messi's farewell.
Properly assessing Mac Allister and co in this game was secondary to assessing Messi's impact on every Argentina player in recent years, with the report from that particular outlet referencing how much the pair have linked up well under head coach Lionel Scaloni.
It read: "Just as we previously noted that certain players helped Messi on the national team, it was undoubtedly a two-way street: Mac Allister’s career was certainly elevated by his proximity to Messi and the partnership they forged on the pitch.
"To the point where — and this is my personal view — I believe the number 10 shirt should be inherited by the Liverpool player, who played a pivotal role in that unforgettable second goal against France in the final."
Mac Allister started alongside Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernandez in midfield. He was replaced by Giovani Lo Celso.
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Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina against Benin
Alexis Mac Allister in action for Argentina against Benin(Image: Luis ROBAYO / AFP via Getty Images)
Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz got on the scoresheet before Inter Miami man Messi netted from the spot, with the Liverpool man completing 95 percent of his passes and quietly impressing in the center.
The Argentine national media coverage naturally focused on Messi rather than the others, but Mac Allister will now return to Liverpool ahead of a crucial period.
This weekend, he could start against Manchester City in the Premier League. The Reds will also face LASK, Brentford, Villarreal, Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Crystal Palace before the next international break.
"There isn’t a final decision set in stone," Mac Allister told ESPN when quizzed on his future at Liverpool at the start of the international break.
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"The reality is that I still have two years left on my contract. In that press conference, because people were asking me about my future, I spoke purely from emotion.
"I wasn’t judging the club or anything like that. In the end, they are the ones who run things and make the decisions, which is completely fine by me.
"Like I said, I’m going to give my absolute best. I have two years left. A lot can happen in two years; there are plenty of possibilities. From my side, I really enjoy being where I am. Hopefully, I’ll stay for more years, but if it ends up being just two, that’s fine too."