Alexis Mac Allister was in such awe of Lionel Messi that he turned red when he first met him on international duty with Argentina.
There won’t be a reunion yet, despite a recall to his country’s senior squad after representing the under-23s at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. With Argentina’s qualification for the finals in Qatar this winter already assured, Messi has been rested for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia in agreement with coach Lionel Scaloni.
The incentive is nevertheless transparent for Mac Allister, a Messi lookalike whose form for Brighton is a cause for celebration. He has headed off to the South American World Cup qualifiers boosted by his longest run as a regular in Graham Potter’s side.
The head coach has used the 23-year-old in a variety of roles in the centre or off the left during a sequence of six starts in succession. They have yielded wins at home to Brentford and away to Everton, together with 1-1 draws against Chelsea (twice), Crystal Palace and Leicester.
Mac Allister scored twice and provided an assist with the corner for Dan Burn’s header in the 3-2 victory at Everton. Another pinpoint corner by the set-piece specialist set up Adam Webster’s equalising header in last week’s 1-1 home draw with Chelsea.
Those are the types of contributions that have been commonplace for Messi throughout his career with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina, albeit on a smaller scale and less glamorous stage.
Mac Allister, recalling his first get-together with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, tells The Athletic: “I was red, completely red. I didn’t want even to say hello.