Family feud over which great takes the top spot
ALEXIS Mac Allister plays alongside Lionel Messi for Argentina and his dad Carlos played with Diego Maradona – so he’s determined to win a family argument over which legend is the real king.
Brighton midfielder Mac Allister, 23, is a man on the up, playing a major role in helping Albion to ninth last season and to a promising start this year, including a victory at Old Trafford.
But as he prepares to face West Ham at the London Stadium today, there’s also another score he needs to settle. And it’s rather a big one.
“My dad loves Maradona. I love Messi,” he said.
“We’ve had some conversations about it, of course. He says that Maradona is better. I say that Messi is better.
“It is just an opinion. I haven’t seen Maradona playing so I cannot have an opinion on him really. But for me Messi is the one. My dad, though, is very grateful to Maradona because he helped him a lot in his career.”
Carlos, a left-back, played alongside the Argentine superstar in qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup, although he wasn’t selected for the finals.
So, finding a winner to their family argument isn’t going to be easy.
But if Alexis can continue his fine performances for Brighton and is chosen for Argentina’s World Cup squad in Qatar, there may be a solution in sight.
What if Mac Allister Junior could help his hero win the World Cup?
“In Argentina, we know that Messi deserves a trophy like the World Cup,” he added. “It will not be easy. But Argentina will fight for that for sure.
“I hope I can be there. It’s a big achievement for me to play alongside Messi. Hopefully I will play a few more games with him.”
To do that he’ll need to continue his fine club form at West Ham, who hasn’t beaten Brighton since the Seagulls’ promotion to the Premier League.
And Mac Allister is prepared to make sure that fine run, and Brighton’s hot start to the season, continues.
“I feel ready to go for everything this season and in this game,” he said. “It’s amazing to be here and I want to compete in the Premier League every week.
“Then after that to give my best and try to win the World
Cup.”