Lionel Messi's Legacy and Argentina's Future Without Him
Lionel Messi is edging towards the final chapter of his international story, and Argentina know exactly what that means: there is no like-for-like replacement coming.
At 39, the captain will walk away as the nation’s record appearance holder and record goalscorer, with 125 goals in 207 caps for the reigning world champions. Those numbers will sit in Argentine football history for a long time. Maybe forever.
Alexis Mac Allister understands the scale of the void about to open up.
Speaking to ESPN, the midfielder laid bare the squad’s feelings for their No.10. “The words for Messi are always the same: gratitude, and the realisation that there will never be another like him,” he said. “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.”
The emotion is one side of it. The football is another.
Mac Allister was clear that Argentina cannot simply cling to memories; they have to rewire the team. “It will be a different process with new players coming in,” he explained. “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.”
No more automatic out-ball to Messi. No more guarantee that one flash of genius will tilt a tight knockout tie. The next Argentina will have to spread that responsibility across the pitch.
The conversation inevitably turned to the Ballon d’Or. Even with his career winding down, Messi’s name still dominates that debate. Mac Allister 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.”
That last line sums up why the dressing room holds him so high: the greatest of all time, still happiest when the spotlight moves to the group.
While Argentina prepare for life after Messi, Mac Allister is juggling his own uncertainty at club level.
The Liverpool midfielder has already admitted he felt disappointed not to receive a contract extension, particularly after fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai signed new deals at Anfield. The hierarchy tied others down. His situation stayed as it was.
He chose not to push for a move in the summer, but that doesn’t mean his future is settled.
“There's no firm decision yet. I still have two years left on my contract,” Mac Allister said. “As I said, I'm going to give it my all. A lot can happen in that time; there are plenty of options.”
The message is calm, not confrontational. He knows his value, yet he’s not agitating in public.
What he did make clear is how he feels about where he is right now. “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 are bracing for a future without their eternal No.10. Mac Allister is weighing up what comes next in his own career. Both stories carry the same question: what does life look like after a legend, whether that legend is Messi or simply the version of yourself you’ve just outgrown?
