Playing alongside Lionel Messi remains a privilege that few footballers in history can claim. For Alexis Mac Allister, it’s not just an honour it’s an education.
The Liverpool midfielder, who lifted the World Cup alongside Messi in Qatar in 2022, has offered a fascinating insight into his relationship with Argentina’s captain and their conversations about life at Anfield.
Mac Allister has established himself as a calm, intelligent presence in Arne Slot’s Liverpool midfield since arriving from Brighton last summer. But when he joins up with the Argentina national team, he becomes one of many looking up to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who continues to command enormous respect across world football.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Mac Allister admitted that, despite their connection, he’s cautious about how often he reaches out to the Inter Miami forward.
“No, never. I don’t want to bother him,” he said when asked if he ever texts Messi. “He’s a nice guy when we go to the national team. He’s someone that you can speak with and joke. But I always say I’m quite shy so I don’t want to be bothering him or these kind of things.”
For Mac Allister, who has grown up idolising Messi, that humility speaks volumes.
“For me it’s a pleasure to play alongside him,” he continued. “He’s the best player I’ve ever seen and I don’t think that’s gonna change. But yeah, so happy we won a World Cup together that’s not an easy thing. But I really admire him on and off the pitch.”
Those words come with genuine affection. Mac Allister is not one for hyperbole, and he often speaks with a quiet respect that reflects his upbringing and family background in football. His father, Carlos Mac Allister, also represented Argentina, meaning Alexis has grown up understanding the magnitude of wearing the famous shirt and of sharing a dressing room with players like Messi.
Despite his self-confessed shyness, Mac Allister has still had opportunities to chat with Messi away from the cameras including about Liverpool.
“Yeah, we had a conversation about Liverpool, about some players,” he revealed. “He’s someone that watches a lot of football. And even his friend [Luis] Suarez was here, so yeah, of course, he knows about it and we had a few chats.”
It’s no surprise that Liverpool is a club Messi knows well. His encounters with the Reds in European competition were among the most dramatic of his illustrious career.
Messi’s first taste of Anfield’s intensity came back in 2007, when Barcelona faced Liverpool in the Champions League last 16. The Catalans lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou in the first leg but progressed on away goals after winning 1-0 on Merseyside. Twelve years later, the story flipped dramatically.
In 2019, Messi produced a masterclass in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, scoring twice as Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners at the Nou Camp. Yet, that tie will forever be remembered for Liverpool’s astonishing comeback a 4-0 win at Anfield, one of the most famous nights in the club’s modern history.
It’s easy to see why those memories would surface when Messi and Mac Allister chat about Liverpool. The Argentine legend, now playing in MLS with Inter Miami, has long been an admirer of footballing cultures built on passion, unity, and intensity traits that have defined Liverpool under both Jürgen Klopp and, now, Arne Slot.
Mac Allister’s respect for Messi, meanwhile, remains unwavering. Around Argentina’s training camp, Messi still sets the tone. Younger players often speak about how the veteran forward balances professionalism with humility, a combination that leaves a lasting impression.
For Mac Allister, who continues to grow into one of Liverpool’s most influential midfielders, that example carries weight. He has spoken before about the importance of surrounding himself with great professionals and few fit that description more than Messi.
Their conversations about Liverpool might be light-hearted, but they also underline the reach of the club and its players. Messi may never have played for Liverpool, but he’s been on the receiving end of some of its most unforgettable nights.
For the 25-year-old, the relationship goes beyond admiration. It’s about learning from the very best and carrying those lessons back to Merseyside.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen,” Mac Allister said simply. “And I really admire him not only for what he does on the pitch but for the person he is.”
At 25, Mac Allister is entering the prime years of his career. Having shared the stage with Messi on the greatest night in Argentine football history, he now finds himself helping shape Liverpool’s next chapter. And somewhere across the Atlantic, it seems safe to assume, Lionel Messi is still keeping an eye on how he and his club are getting on.
