Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister risks injury to help Lionel Messi

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister put his body on the line for Argentina in their Copa America opener, narrowly avoiding injury.

Mac Allister outpaced Canada's keeper Maxime Crepeau to reach Lionel Messi's pass, managing to nudge the ball towards Manchester City's Julian Alvarez who slotted it into an open goal to give them the lead. Mac Allister's stretch to make contact with the ball before being taken down by the 'keeper left him on the ground.

His teammates rushed over to celebrate with him, recognising his contribution to the goal, but play was delayed as Mac Allister needed a moment to recover. The midfielder managed to complete the match which saw Argentina triumph 2-0 over Canada, with Lautaro Martinez securing the win with a goal at the 88-minute mark.

READ MORE: Mac Allister makes major Liverpool future claim

READ MORE: Liverpool could find Mac Allister's perfect partner

Mac Allister, part of Argentina's World Cup-winning squad in 2022, had only recently made the team, missing out on a Copa America medal from their 2021 victory. The Liverpool player has now become a crucial part of Lionel Scaloni's side and has earned high praise from Messi.

Having made his international debut in 2019, Mac Allister had to bide his time when it came to selection for major tournaments. Mac Allister's journey in football has been nothing short of extraordinary, with the midfielder making his mark at Argentinos Juniors back in 2016 when he was just 17.

Fast forward three years, and the talented playmaker made the leap to Brighton where he rapidly proved his worth, becoming one of the Seagulls' standout performers. It didn't take long for Liverpool to come calling, splashing a cool £35.5m on Mac Allister, who also inherited the prestigious No. 10 shirt previously donned by Anfield favourite Sadio Mane.

Since pulling on the iconic red jersey, Mac Allister's profile has soared internationally, but respect for his abilities was never in question, even from the greatest of talents like Lionel Messi. Appreciated long before his stint with Liverpool started, Messi was there to champion his cause during national team encounters.

Despite a hiatus from international football following his debut, 2022 saw Mac Allister called up again by Argentina. While some squad banter ensued over his fair hair, Mac Allister recalls the quick intervention from Messi, ensuring that respect prevailed as noted in an interview with The Athletic: "I remember everyone called me 'Colo', which is ginger in Argentina.

"I don't like it much and he (Messi) told the teammates that. He said, 'He doesn't like to be called Colo, so don't call him that!"