Lionel Messi's Argentina Legacy and Future Challenges

Lionel Messi is edging towards the final chapter of his Argentina story, and the scale of what comes next is starting to hit those around him.

At 39, the captain will walk away as the country’s all-time leader in caps and goals, a World Cup winner with 125 goals in 207 appearances. Those are numbers that define an era. They also underline the size of the void he will leave behind.

Alexis Mac Allister feels it already.

“There will never be another like him”

Speaking to ESPN, the Argentina midfielder didn’t bother searching for new adjectives. There aren’t any left.

“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.”

That emotion is tied to more than nostalgia. Messi has been Argentina’s safety net and cutting edge for almost two decades. When games tightened, he loosened them. When tournaments slipped away, he dragged them back.

Mac Allister knows the national team can’t simply wait for the next genius.

“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.”

The message is clear: Argentina can’t replace Messi. They’ll have to reinvent themselves instead.

Ballon d’Or backing

Messi’s looming farewell does not mean his influence has faded. His World Cup in 2022 still looms over the individual awards, and Mac Allister is adamant his captain deserves another Ballon d’Or.

“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.

There was no attempt to dress it up as a personal crusade for Messi, either.

“We all know that Leo has always prioritised the team over individual achievements, so it wouldn’t be a big deal for him,” Mac Allister added.

For his teammates and a football-obsessed country, it would be huge.

Club future up in the air

While he talks about Messi’s future in definitive terms, Mac Allister’s own path looks far less certain.

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. He stayed put in the summer when chances to leave were on the table, but the doubts remain.

“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.”

For now, he leans into the present rather than the what-ifs.

“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 life after Messi. Mac Allister is bracing for whatever comes after this Liverpool spell. One era is ending by choice, the other may hinge on a contract meeting. Both will shape the next few years of his career – and his country’s.