1. Early Life and Background
Alexis Mac Allister's early life was deeply rooted in a family passionate about football, with his father and two older brothers also pursuing careers in the sport. His ancestry traces back to Europe, connecting him to both Irish and Italian heritage.
1.1. Childhood and Family
Alexis Mac Allister was born on 24 December 1998, in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. He is the youngest of three brothers; his elder brothers, Francis Mac Allister (born 30 October 1995) and Kevin Mac Allister (born 7 November 1997), are also professional footballers. All three brothers have played football professionally.
Their father, Carlos Mac Allister (born 6 May 1968), is a former footballer who played alongside Diego Maradona for the Argentina national team and later served as Argentina's Minister of Tourism and Sports from 2015 to 2018. Their uncle, Patricio Mac Allister, also a retired footballer, notably played in the Japan Soccer League for Mitsubishi Motors. The three Mac Allister brothers notably played together for the first time on 25 November 2017, in a 1-0 loss against San Lorenzo, with Alexis and Francis starting and Kevin coming on as a substitute. Alexis is the only one among the three brothers to have won a FIFA World Cup.
1.2. Ancestry and Heritage
Mac Allister's surname, a Celtic name, indicates his Irish descent. His ancestry can be traced back to Donabate, in County Dublin, Ireland. While some sources suggest Scottish roots, Mac Allister himself has stated that his heritage is Irish, not Scottish, confirming that some of his ancestors migrated from Ireland to Argentina. He also possesses Italian ancestry through his maternal grandmother.
2. Club Career
Alexis Mac Allister's club career began in Argentina, where he quickly made an impact, before moving to England and establishing himself as a key player for both Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.
2.1. Argentinos Juniors
Like his brothers, Mac Allister started his football journey at Club Social y Deportivo Parque before joining the youth setup of Argentinos Juniors. He made his first-team debut for Argentinos Juniors on 30 October 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Iván Colman in a 0-0 home draw against Central Córdoba in the Primera B Nacional.
His first professional goal came on 10 March 2017, in a 2-1 away loss against Instituto. During his first senior campaign in the 2016-17 season, he contributed three goals in 23 appearances, helping his team secure promotion to the Argentine Primera División as champions. He made his debut in the top flight on 9 September 2017, starting in a 2-1 loss at Patronato. On 5 March 2018, he scored his first top-tier goal, opening the scoring in a 2-0 home win over Boca Juniors.
2.2. Brighton & Hove Albion
Mac Allister's move to European football began with his transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion, though he initially spent time on loan back in Argentina. He later became a pivotal figure for the English club.
2.2.1. Initial Loan Spells and Transition
On 24 January 2019, Mac Allister signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. As part of the transfer agreement, he was immediately loaned back to Argentinos Juniors for the remainder of the 2018-19 Premier League season. During this loan spell, he made 10 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Primera División, in addition to 7 appearances and 1 goal in the Copa de la Superliga, and 4 appearances in the Copa Sudamericana.
In June 2019, Mac Allister then joined Boca Juniors on loan, where he reunited with his brother Kevin, who had also joined Boca on loan six months prior. He scored on his Boca debut on 25 July, netting the team's only goal in the first leg of a Copa Libertadores round of sixteen victory over Athletico Paranaense. On 5 August, he played his first league game for Boca, coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 away victory against Patronato. His loan at Boca was concluded early by Brighton on 31 January 2020.
2.2.2. Breakthrough and European Qualification
Mac Allister made his debut for Brighton on 7 March 2020, as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0-0 away draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. This proved to be Brighton's last match before the Premier League's temporary suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played his first home game for Brighton, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 victory over Arsenal on 20 June 2020. Three days later, he made his first start for the club in a 0-0 away draw against Leicester City, playing 58 minutes before being substituted.
Mac Allister scored his first goal for Brighton on 17 September 2020, with a header in a 4-0 home victory over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup. He scored again six days later in the EFL Cup, securing a 2-0 away victory over Preston. On 18 October, he scored his first Premier League goal, a 90th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 away draw against rivals Crystal Palace.
In the opening game of the 2021-22 season on 14 August, Mac Allister scored the winning goal, his second-ever Premier League goal, as Brighton came from behind to beat Burnley 2-1 away. On 22 September, he provided assists for both of Aaron Connolly's goals in a 2-0 home victory over Swansea City in the EFL Cup third round, though he later left the match due to injury. His second goal of the season came on 23 October, an 81st-minute penalty in a 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City. On 2 January 2022, he scored his first brace in a 3-2 away win over Everton, scoring in the third minute to give Brighton a 1-0 lead and then making it 3-1 in the 71st minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. On 18 January, Mac Allister provided the corner kick that led to Adam Webster's headed equalizer in a 1-1 home draw against European champions Chelsea.
In the 2022-23 season's opening match against Manchester United, Mac Allister scored an own goal in a 2-1 victory, which marked Brighton's first-ever win at Old Trafford. Two weeks later, he scored from the penalty spot in a 2-0 away win over West Ham, and then another penalty in a 2-1 defeat at Fulham. On 4 September, Mac Allister netted a brace, including a third penalty in four games (after having a goal ruled out by VAR), in a 5-2 home win over Leicester. On 24 October, he signed a new contract, committing him to Brighton until at least June 2025, with an option for an additional year. He scored 10 goals in the Premier League for the 2022-23 season, becoming Brighton's top scorer.
Following his 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, Mac Allister returned to club action on 4 January 2023, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute of a 4-1 away victory over Everton. On 7 January, he scored another brace in a 5-1 away win over EFL Championship team Middlesbrough in the third round of the 2022-23 FA Cup. On 14 January, in his first return to Brighton's Falmer Stadium since the World Cup, Mac Allister proudly wore his winner's medal as he walked onto the pitch before the match against Liverpool, which Brighton went on to win 3-0. On 23 April, Brighton were eliminated from the FA Cup after a 7-6 penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester United. On 4 May, Mac Allister scored a 99th-minute penalty winner against Manchester United to secure a victory for Brighton. At the end of the 2022-23 season, Brighton finished 6th, qualifying for the Europa League for the first time in the club's history. On 1 June, Mac Allister was voted Brighton's Player of the Season by BBC Sport users. He was also shortlisted for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, finishing 10th with 12 points in the ranked voting.
2.3. Liverpool FC
Mac Allister's impressive performances earned him a move to one of England's top clubs, where he continued to play a significant role.
2.3.1. 2023-24 Season
On 8 June 2023, Mac Allister officially signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Liverpool. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was widely reported to be an initial 35.00 M GBP and a total of 55.00 M GBP including add-on fees. He made his club debut on 13 August in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League. On 19 August, Mac Allister received a red card for a foul against Ryan Christie during a home Premier League match against Bournemouth, a decision that drew criticism from analysts and fans. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also expressed concern about the decision. Liverpool successfully appealed the red card, and it was overturned on 22 August.
On 24 September 2023, Mac Allister provided his first competitive assist for Liverpool with a long chipped pass to Darwin Núñez in a 3-1 victory against West Ham United. On 5 October, he shared the pitch with his brother Kevin for the first time at club level in a Europa League group stage match against Union Saint-Gilloise, with Kevin coming on as a substitute in the 46th minute. Mac Allister scored his first goal for Liverpool on 3 December in a 4-3 win over Fulham, with a spectacular shot from 30 yd out. This goal was later voted the Premier League Goal of the Month for December and Liverpool's Goal of the Season for the 2023-24 campaign. On 25 February, Mac Allister started in the EFL Cup final against Chelsea and was substituted in the 87th minute before overtime in Liverpool's 1-0 victory. He was named Liverpool's Player of the Month for March, recognized for his key contributions across all competitions. Reflecting on his role under manager Jürgen Klopp during his final season, Mac Allister noted, "I played as a lone five [holding midfielder]. I was much more defensive than anything else. We were used to being very direct and perhaps played more long balls." On 17 February, he scored his second Premier League goal in Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium. On 7 March, in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg, Mac Allister scored a penalty in Liverpool's 5-1 win over Sparta Prague. He scored his fourth Premier League goal on 4 April in a 3-1 home win against Sheffield United, and his fifth on 19 May in a 2-0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
2.3.2. 2024-25 Season
During the 2024-25 season, Mac Allister became a consistent starting midfielder under new manager Arne Slot. He made his UEFA Champions League debut on 17 September, starting in a 3-1 away win against Milan. On 27 November, Mac Allister scored the first goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win against Real Madrid, marking the club's first victory against the Spanish giants in 15 years. He was named Man of the Match for his performance. On 26 December, Mac Allister provided two assists, one for Cody Gakpo and another for Curtis Jones, as Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 in the Premier League.
3. International Career
Alexis Mac Allister has represented Argentina at various levels, from youth teams to the senior squad, playing a crucial role in their recent successes, including a World Cup triumph.
3.1. Youth and Olympic Teams
Shortly after making his debut for Argentinos Juniors, Mac Allister received a call-up from Claudio Úbeda for the Argentina under-20s.
On 1 July 2021, Mac Allister was named in the Argentine Olympic squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which was held in 2021 due to the previous year's postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He started in Argentina's opening game against Australia on 22 July, playing 78 minutes in a 2-0 defeat at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo. He also started the subsequent two group games: a 1-0 victory over Egypt on 25 July, also played in the Sapporo Dome, and a 1-1 draw with Spain on 28 July at the Saitama Stadium in Midori-ku, Saitama. Argentina was eliminated from the tournament, finishing third in their group on goal difference.
3.2. Senior National Team Debut and Major Tournaments
Mac Allister was first selected for the senior team in August 2019, ahead of friendly matches in the United States in September against Chile and Mexico. His international debut came in the match against Chile at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on 5 September.
He was recalled to the Argentina national team's senior squad in January 2022, two and a half years after earning his first two caps. However, he tested positive for COVID-19 and missed Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Chile. He eventually made his first appearance for the national team in almost three years when he started in the 3-0 home win over Venezuela on 25 March. Five days later, in a draw with Ecuador, he was forced off injured after a knee-high challenge, returning to Brighton for recovery. On 1 June, Mac Allister was an unused substitute as Argentina defeated Italy 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley Stadium.
3.2.1. 2022 FIFA World Cup
On 11 November, Mac Allister was named in Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Originally a reserve player, he was on the bench for the group stage opener against Saudi Arabia. Following Argentina's unexpected loss to Saudi Arabia, manager Lionel Scaloni made changes to the starting lineup, promoting Mac Allister along with Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández to replace Lautaro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, and Papu Gómez respectively.
In the final group game against Poland on 30 November, Mac Allister scored his first international goal, opening the score in an eventual 2-0 victory that saw Argentina advance to the round of 16 as group winners. In the semi-final against Croatia, he started in a strong midfield alongside Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Leandro Paredes, which effectively dismantled Croatia's midfield. In the final against defending champions France, Mac Allister started and provided an assist for Ángel Di María's goal, which made the score 2-0. He was substituted in the second half of extra time before Argentina secured their third World Cup title following a penalty shootout. Mac Allister's consistent dedication and pivotal performances after becoming a starter significantly contributed to Argentina's historic victory. He became the only player in Brighton & Hove Albion's history to win a FIFA World Cup while contracted to the club.
3.2.2. 2024 Copa América and Other Tournaments
In June 2024, Mac Allister was called up to represent Argentina at the 2024 Copa América. He played in all but one of their matches and recorded two assists during the tournament. Argentina went on to win the competition, defeating Colombia 1-0 in the final, earning Mac Allister his third senior international trophy in as many years, following the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
4. Playing Style
Alexis Mac Allister primarily operates as an attacking midfielder (AM) or a central midfielder (CM). He was developed as a number 10 player at AA Argentinos Juniors, where he was accustomed to playing as an advanced playmaker in various formations, including 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 (diamond).
His versatility allows him to adapt to different tactical roles, as demonstrated by his playing as a defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation for Liverpool. For the Argentina national team, he has played as an inside half and a left-sided midfielder, contributing significantly to their successes. He is known for his precise passing technique, strong kicking ability, and excellent tactical vision. Under manager Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, Mac Allister sometimes played as a "lone five" or holding midfielder, adopting a more defensive role and facilitating direct play with long balls.
5. Career Statistics
This section provides detailed statistical information for Alexis Mac Allister's entire professional career, covering his club and international appearances and goals.
5.1. Club Statistics
As of 26 February 2025.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Argentinos Juniors | 2016-17 | Primera B Nacional | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 3 | ||
| 2017-18 | Primera División | 24 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 3 | |||
| 2018-19 | Primera División | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 3 | |||
| Total | 56 | 8 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 60 | 9 | ||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2019-20 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2020-21 | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | - | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2021-22 | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 36 | 5 | ||
| 2022-23 | Premier League | 35 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 40 | 12 | ||
| Total | 98 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | - | 112 | 20 | |||
| Argentinos Juniors (loan) | 2018-19 | Primera División | 10 | 2 | - | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| Boca Juniors (loan) | 2019-20 | Primera División | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 2 |
| Liverpool | 2023-24 | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 46 | 7 |
| 2024-25 | Premier League | 27 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 5 | |
| Total | 60 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 84 | 12 | ||
| Career total | 237 | 35 | 17 | 4 | 23 | 3 | 22 | 4 | 297 | 46 | ||
5.2. International Statistics
This section details Mac Allister's appearances and goals for the Argentina national team.
5.2.1. Senior National Team Appearances and Goals
As of 19 November 2024.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 13 | 2 | |
| Total | 36 | 3 | |
5.2.2. Senior National Team Goal List
As of 19 November 2024.
Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after each Mac Allister goal
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 November 2022 | Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar | 10 | Poland | 1-0 | 2-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 2 | 26 March 2024 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States | 25 | Costa Rica | 2-1 | 3-1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 5 September 2024 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 32 | Chile | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Alexis Mac Allister has accumulated several team and individual honours throughout his career at both club and international levels.
6.1. Club Honours
Argentinos Juniors
- Primera B Nacional: 2016-17
Boca Juniors
- Primera División: 2019-20
Liverpool
- EFL Cup: 2023-24
6.2. International Honours
Argentina U23
- CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament: 2020
Argentina
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
- Copa América: 2024
- Finalissima: 2022
6.3. Individual Honours
- Premier League Goal of the Month: December 2023
- Liverpool's Goal of the Season: 2023-24
- Liverpool's Player of the Month: March 2024
- Brighton Player of the Season: 2022-23