Lionel Messi's Legacy and Argentina's Future

Lionel Messi is edging towards the final chapter of his Argentina story, and the weight of what comes next is starting to land on those who will be left behind.

At 39, the captain will walk away as the country’s undisputed standard-bearer: record appearance maker, record goalscorer, 125 goals in 207 caps, and the man who finally carried the Albiceleste to the 2022 World Cup. Replacing that is impossible. Living with the void is the real task.

Alexis Mac Allister knows it.

“There will never be another like him”

Speaking to ESPN, the midfielder did not try to dress it up.

“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 thing. The football is another.

Mac Allister was clear that Argentina cannot simply hope someone else steps into the No.10’s boots. They will have to change.

“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 talk of a “new Messi”. No easy slogans. Just a hard reset for a squad that has been built around a single, generational reference point for nearly two decades.

Ballon d’Or backing

Messi’s looming farewell does not mean his influence belongs to the past. Not yet.

Asked about his captain’s chances of adding another Ballon d’Or, 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.”

The message was clear: the dressing room still sees him as the game’s pinnacle, even as they quietly prepare for life without him.

Uncertainty at Anfield

While he reflects on a changing national team, Mac Allister is also dealing with questions much closer to home.

His situation at Liverpool has grown more complicated. The midfielder has already admitted he felt a sting of disappointment when the club chose to hand new deals to fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, while his own contract remained untouched.

He stayed put during the summer, turning down chances to leave Anfield, yet the future remains open.

“There’s no firm decision yet. I still have two years left on my contract,” he said. “As I said, I’m going to give it my all. A lot can happen in that time; there are plenty of options.”

No ultimatums. No public shots at the club. Just a player keeping every door ajar.

What he does not hide 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.”

For Mac Allister, one era is ending with Argentina and another is unresolved at Liverpool. How he navigates both will say plenty about what kind of leader he becomes once Messi finally steps away.