Lionel Messi's Legacy: Argentina's Future Without Him

Lionel Messi is edging towards the final act of his international story, and Argentina can already feel the weight of what comes next.

At 39, he will walk away as the country’s undisputed standard-bearer: 207 caps, 125 goals, a World Cup finally delivered in 2022, and a legacy that has shaped a generation. Replacing that is not a footballing problem. It’s an identity crisis.

Alexis Mac Allister knows it. You can hear it in the way he talks about his captain, and in the way he keeps circling back to the same word: gratitude.

“The words for Messi are always the same: gratitude, and the realisation that there will never be another like him,” he told ESPN. No dressing it up, no attempt to soften the blow. There will not be another.

They have lived the golden years with him. The Copa América drought broken, the Finalissima, the World Cup in Qatar. “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,” Mac Allister said, already looking ahead to the moment the No.10 finally steps away.

Life after Leo

Emotion is one thing. The tactical reality is another.

Mac Allister didn’t hide from that. Argentina have built everything around Messi’s genius for nearly two decades. Every system, every plan, every late-game escape route had the same answer: give it to him.

That era is ending.

“It will be a different process with new players coming in,” the Liverpool midfielder admitted. “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.”

That’s the crux of it. Argentina can no longer rely on the man who solved problems on his own. They will need a collective edge, more voices, more responsibility spread across the pitch. The shirt with the No.10 will still be there. The aura attached to it will not be the same.

One more Ballon d'Or?

Before the curtain falls, there is still one individual question hanging over Messi: another Ballon d'Or.

Mac Allister didn’t hesitate when asked. “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. For him, the case is simple: the biggest stage, the biggest performances, the biggest prize.

He also knows Messi’s view on such accolades. “We all know that Leo has always prioritised the team over individual achievements, so it wouldn't be a big deal for him,” he added. The irony, of course, is that this very attitude helped elevate him above his peers.

Whether the trophy ends up in his hands again or not, the symbolism is clear: Argentina are bracing for a future without the man who defined their present.

Uncertainty at Anfield

While the national team prepares for a post-Messi landscape, Mac Allister is wrestling with uncertainty of his own.

His situation at Liverpool has raised eyebrows. The midfielder has already admitted he felt disappointed that the club did not move to extend his contract, especially after seeing Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai rewarded with new deals.

He had chances to walk away from Anfield in the summer. He stayed. Commitment, though, does not always bring clarity.

“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 ultimatum. No public push. Just a player keeping every door slightly open while insisting he will drain everything from the time he has left.

His feelings about Liverpool remain clear. “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.”

So Mac Allister stands at a crossroads on two fronts: part of a national team about to lose its greatest ever figure, and a key piece at a club that has yet to fully commit to him long term.

Argentina must learn how to win without Messi. Liverpool must decide how central Mac Allister is to their next cycle.

Both answers will shape the next chapter of his career.