Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina Left to Rue Missed Chance at Back-to-Back World Cup Glory
The 2026 World Cup final will be remembered as a night of Spanish joy and Argentine despair. Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner secured victory for Spain in New Jersey, while the defending champions’ campaign ended in bitter recriminations, marked by Enzo Fernández’s red card at the end of normal time and Leandro Paredes’ post-final dismissal for an ugly challenge on Eric García.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister endured a difficult evening on the biggest stage, struggling to impose himself after shining in the semi-final win over England.
Media Slam Mac Allister’s Final Display
Argentine outlet TyC Sports awarded the midfielder a 5/10, with Ernesto Provitilo noting that Mac Allister “couldn’t break free from his more defensive role and had to focus on containing and tracking back,” limiting Argentina’s ability to utilise one of their most creative attacking threats.
ESPN’s Nick Judd was harsher, giving him 4/10: “He was very lucky to get away without a yellow card after a very late challenge on Dani Olmo, and again when he handled the ball. He looked uncomfortable all evening.”
The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope echoed the criticism with his own 4/10 verdict: “Shocking first half. Repeatedly found Spain players with stray passes and was lucky to escape a yellow for the lunge on Olmo. Recovered to put in a decent shift but quality was still lacking.”
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
While Mac Allister’s performance drew scrutiny, he was far from the only culprit. Argentina’s overall behaviour came under heavy fire, with BBC Sport pundits Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart describing it as “embarrassing” and “disgusting” respectively.
Positives Amid the Disappointment
Despite the criticism, there were flashes of quality. According to Sofascore, Mac Allister won seven duels, made two tackles, completed 100% of his dribbles, and drew three fouls. However, he was also dribbled past four times and conceded two free-kicks.
After a gruelling campaign — 3,885 club minutes plus 749 more at the World Cup — the 27-year-old will now enjoy a much-needed break to process the disappointment and recharge ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Liverpool typically grant players three weeks off after summer international tournaments, meaning Mac Allister is likely to feature in only one pre-season outing (against Como on 16 August) before the Premier League kicks off the following weekend.
That limited preparation time with new head coach Andoni Iraola won’t be a major issue for the experienced Argentina international. A high-level operator with a proven track record, Mac Allister is well-equipped to adapt quickly and thrive once again for the Reds.
