Alexis Mac Allister

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8 May 2024

Alexis Mac Allister

Alexis Mac Allister's journey in professional football showcases his talent and versatility as a midfielder. Starting with Argentinos Juniors, he quickly made an impact by helping them secure the Argentine second division title in his debut season. His subsequent move to Brighton & Hove Albion provided him with valuable experience, although he spent time on loan with Boca Juniors, where he contributed to their success in the 2019–20 Primera División.
Returning to Brighton, Mac Allister emerged as a key player, demonstrating his skill and maturity on the field. His performances caught the attention of Liverpool, leading to his transfer to the Premier League giants in June 2023. With his arrival at Anfield, Mac Allister aims to continue his development and contribute to Liverpool's success.

On the international stage, Mac Allister has represented Argentina with distinction, earning accolades such as winning the 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament and participating in the 2020 Summer Olympics. His senior international debut came in 2019, and he has since been a valuable asset for Argentina, playing a crucial role in their victories in the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he showcased his playmaking abilities by assisting a goal in the final.
Alexis Mac Allister hails from a footballing family with strong ties to the sport. Born on 24 December 1998 in Santa Rosa, La Pampa, he grew up in a household where football was a way of life. His older brothers, Francis and Kevin, are also footballers, following in the footsteps of their father, Carlos Mac Allister, and their uncle, Patricio Mac Allister, both of whom had successful careers in the sport.

The Mac Allister family name has Scottish origins, although their more recent lineage is of Irish descent. Alexis has confirmed that some of his ancestors migrated to Argentina from Ireland, with connections to Donabate in County Dublin. Additionally, their ancestry can be traced back to Fife in Eastern Scotland, further deepening their ties to the region.
Adding to the multicultural heritage of the Mac Allister family, Alexis also has Italian ancestry through his maternal grandmother, highlighting the diverse background that has shaped his identity both on and off the football pitch.Alexis Mac Allister's football journey began at Club Social y Deportivo Parque, where he followed in the footsteps of his brothers before transitioning to the youth setup of Argentinos Juniors. It was with Argentinos Juniors that he made his first-team debut on 30 October 2016, stepping onto the field as a second-half substitute in a Primera B Nacional match against Central Córdoba that ended in a 0–0 draw. His first goal for the club came on 10 March 2017, although details of the match are unavailable. Throughout his debut senior season, Mac Allister showcased his talent by contributing three goals in 23 appearances, helping his team secure promotion to the Primera División as champions.

His debut in the top tier came on 9 September, starting in a 2–1 loss against Patronato. One of the notable moments in Mac Allister's career came on 25 November 2017 when he, alongside his two brothers, shared the pitch for the first time in a match against San Lorenzo. Despite the result being a 1–0 loss, it was a memorable occasion for the Mac Allister family. Mac Allister continued to make an impact, scoring his first goal in the top tier on 5 March 2018 in a 2–0 home victory over Boca Juniors.
Alexis Mac Allister's move to the Premier League was realized on 24 January 2019 when he signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on a four-and-a-half-year contract. However, as part of the agreement, he was immediately loaned back to Argentinos Juniors for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.

In June 2019, Boca Juniors secured the loan signing of Mac Allister, allowing him to join his brother Kevin, who had already been with the club on loan for six months. Mac Allister made an immediate impact, scoring on his Boca debut during the Copa Libertadores round of sixteen against Athletico Paranaense on 25 July. He then made his league debut for Boca on 5 August, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 away victory against Patronato.
However, his loan spell at Boca was cut short by Brighton on 31 January 2020, signaling a return to England for Mac Allister.
Alexis Mac Allister's journey with Brighton & Hove Albion began with his debut as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7 March 2020. This match marked Brighton's last until the Premier League resumed in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He made his first appearance at home in a 2–1 victory over Arsenal on 20 June, coming off the bench. Three days later, he earned his first start in a 0–0 draw against Leicester City, playing 58 minutes before being substituted.

Mac Allister scored his debut goal for Brighton on 17 September 2020, netting a header in a 4–0 triumph over Portsmouth in the EFL Cup. He continued his scoring form with another goal in the EFL Cup six days later, helping Brighton secure a 2–0 away victory against Preston. His first Premier League goal came on 18 October, as he scored a 90th-minute equalizer in a 1–1 draw against Crystal Palace.
In the 2021–22 season opener, Mac Allister scored the winning goal as Brighton came from behind to defeat Burnley 2–1 away. He provided assists for both goals in a 2–0 EFL Cup third-round victory over Swansea City on 22 September but was forced off due to injury. His second league goal of the season came on 23 October, converting an 81st-minute penalty in a 4–1 defeat to Manchester City. He then secured his first brace in a thrilling 3–2 away win over Everton on 2 January 2022, scoring in the third minute and again in the 71st minute. Mac Allister's contributions continued as he provided an assist for Adam Webster's headed equalizer from a corner in a 1–1 home draw against Chelsea on 18 January.

Alexis Mac Allister's eventful 2022-23 season with Brighton & Hove Albion began with a memorable victory against Manchester United, where he unfortunately scored an own goal in a 2–1 win, marking Brighton's first-ever triumph at Old Trafford. He continued his goal-scoring form by converting from the penalty spot in a 2–0 away victory over West Ham, and later repeated the feat with another penalty goal in a 2–1 defeat against Fulham. His standout performance came in a thrilling 5–2 home win over Leicester, where he netted a brace, including a third penalty in four games, although one of his goals was ruled out by VAR.
On 24 October, Mac Allister extended his stay at Brighton by signing a new contract until at least June 2025, with an option for an additional year. Following his victorious campaign at the World Cup, he returned to Brighton and made an impact by coming off the bench in a 4–1 away victory over Everton on 4 January 2023. He then scored a brace in a dominant 5–1 away win over EFL Championship side Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup on 7 January.
In a significant moment on 14 January, Mac Allister proudly wore his winner's medal from the World Cup as he returned to Brighton's Falmer Stadium for the first time since the tournament. Brighton celebrated with a 3–0 victory over Liverpool. However, their FA Cup journey came to an end on 23 April as they were eliminated in a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United.
Mac Allister once again proved to be the hero on 4 May, scoring a dramatic 99th-minute penalty winner against Manchester United to secure a memorable victory for Brighton. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Brighton finished 6th in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa League, with Mac Allister emerging as the club's top scorer with 10 goals. His outstanding performances earned him heavy interest from Liverpool, and he was subsequently voted as Brighton's Player of the Season by users of BBC Sport on 1 June.