"Not just by words but more by example" - Alexis Mac Allister on Lionel Messi's leadership in Argentina national team
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister has shed light on Lionel Messi's leadership in the Argentina national team. The latter also wears the armband for Inter Miami and was also the Barcelona skipper during his final years at Camp Nou.
La Pulga took over the armband for La Albiceleste in 2011 and guided them to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, only to come up short against Germany. Lionel Messi then faced disappointment with his national team at multiple tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
However, his perseverance finally bore fruit in 2021 when Argentina won the Copa America. The 37-year-old has since won the Finalissima in 2022, the World Cup in the same year and another Copa America this summer.
Speaking on The Rest is Football, Mac Allister insisted that Lionel Messi prefers to lead by example with the national team.
"He improved a lot, he grew into the role and he was amazing for us. He doesn't speak much but he speaks when we really need him," Mac Allister said.
He continued:
"For example, before we go onto the pitch, he always says the things that he thinks or wants. That is really special for us, his leadership is amazing. It's not just by words but more by example."
Messi won the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup as well as the 2022 World Cup.
How many hat-tricks has Lionel Messi scored for Argentina?
Lionel Messi has scored 10 hat-tricks with Argentina, the joint most in men's international football alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. La Pulga's first hat-trick for his nation was in a 3-1 win against Switzerland in a friendly in 2012.
He registered his second hattrick for La Albiceleste in June that year in a friendly against Brazil, helping his nation to a 4-3 win. Interestingly, four of Messi's last five hattricks have come for Argentina.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is also the first player to score three hattrick in the South American World Cup qualifiers. The Argentinean's most recent hattrick for his nation was against Bolivia in the World Cup qualifiers in October this month.
La Pulga's efforts helped La Albiceleste secure a thumping 6-0 win. Messi also scored his first hattrick for Inter Miami against the New England Revolution in the MLS this season, in a 6-2 win. He won the Supporters' Shield with the Herons this year and was awarded the MLS MVP award for 2024 this week.