Argentina are through to the Copa America semi-finals with the help of Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.
Mac Allister has become an important figure for the national team having broken into the side during the 2022 World Cup.
From there, things have been a bit of a whirlwind for the 25-year-old. After earning himself a move to Liverpool, Mac Allister’s stature in world football has exploded.
There has even been talk of potential interest in Mac Allister from Real Madrid. Thankfully, the player himself has talked down any chance of him leaving Anfield.
That’s just as well, because after his showing last night, Mac Allister is once again turning some heads.
Emi Martinez sends Alexis Mac Allister message
The real hero of the night for Argentina was goalkeeper Emi Martinez. After Ecuador held the World champions to a 1-1 draw the evening went to penalties.
As he has so often done in the past, Martinez stood up to bail his country out. The Aston Villa goalie saved two penalties, Argentina scored four out five – with only Lionel Messi missing – and went through 4-2.
As he was occasionally for Liverpool during last season, Mac Allister was on penalty duty for his nation. And what a penalty it was.
It would be impossible to place a spot-kick more out of reach for goalkeeper than the Liverpool No.10 did on Friday morning.
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Slotted to goalkeeper’s left, Mac Allister’s penalty was right in the side-netting of the goal. Perfectly placed.
It was also hit with the kind of power that, even if Alexander Dominguez had gone the right way, he’d never have saved it.
It was not just the penalty though, Mac Allister was in superb form all game for Argentina. After getting an assist and controlling the midfield, the former Brighton man took to Instagram to celebrate the win.
“How well you play football,” Martinez wrote in the replies. How well indeed.
What next for Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina
As favourites for the Copa America and on the favourable side of the draw, Argentina won’t be surprised to find themselves in the semi-finals.
There, the Albiceleste will play either Canada or Venezuela, who play in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Although there are no easy games at this level, you’d back Mac Allister, Martinez and the rest to make it through that and into the final.
Should they get to the showpiece in Miami, they are likely to face one of Macca’s Liverpool teammates.
On the other side of the draw, Alisson Becker faces Darwin Nunez as Brazil take on Uruguay on Sunday morning. Before that, Luis Diaz’s Colombia take on Panama as big favourites to go through.
For now, it looks likely that we’ll have Red vs Red for the trophy. That’s in no small part thanks to Mac Allister.