Argentina Prepares for Life After Messi

Lionel Messi is edging towards the final chapter of his extraordinary international story, and Argentina know exactly what that means: there is no like-for-like replacement coming.

When he finally steps away, the 39-year-old will leave as the nation’s all-time leading appearance maker and goalscorer, with 125 goals in 207 caps for the reigning world champions. Those numbers are cold. The reality behind them is not.

Alexis Mac Allister can feel the size of the void already.

“There will never be another like him”

Speaking to ESPN, the midfielder laid bare the dressing room’s sense of gratitude and impending loss as Messi nears the end.

“The words for Messi are always the same: gratitude, and the realisation that there will never be another like him,” Mac Allister 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.”

This is not just about a superstar leaving. It’s about Argentina preparing to rip out the core of a team that has been built around one man for nearly two decades.

Mac Allister made it clear the national side will have to evolve, not just emotionally but structurally.

“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 blunt: the Messi era is ending, and the next Argentina will have to win in a very different way.

Ballon d’Or backing

Even with the focus on what comes next, Messi’s legacy still dominates the present.

Asked about his captain’s chances of lifting 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.”

For the squad, another individual prize would be a final flourish on an already gilded international career. For Messi, as ever, it would sit behind the medals he has shared.

Club future up in the air

While he talks about an Argentina without Messi, Mac Allister is dealing with uncertainty of his own at club level.

The Liverpool midfielder has already admitted frustration that the club have not moved to extend his contract, especially after fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai were rewarded with new deals. He stayed put during the summer despite chances to leave Anfield, but the long-term picture remains unclear.

“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 drama in his delivery, but the situation is finely poised. Liverpool have a key midfielder entering a critical window, fully committed on the pitch but openly acknowledging that his future is not tied down.

Mac Allister, though, refuses to let that doubt cloud what he has 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 preparing for life after Messi. Mac Allister weighing up his own next step. Two careers at very different stages, both heading towards decisions that will shape what comes next.