Argentina star Alexis Mac Allister has an amazing football family, his dad used to play alongside Diego Maradona.
The 23-year-old Brighton midfielder has been playing a key role in Argentina’s World Cup campaign so far in Qatar as they have made it to the semi-finals.
Mac Allister’s love for the game was helped by having football in his blood.
His dad, Carlos played alongside Maradona, who is regarded as one of the best-ever players to play the game. However, Carlos did miss out on a place in the 1994 World Cup squad.
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Mac Allister’s elder brothers, Francis, 27 and Kevin, 25, play for Rosario Central and Argentinos Juniors in the Argentine top flight.
Uncle, Patricio enjoyed a stellar career and was most known for playing for Estudiantes.
When Mac Allister was young, he began his football life at Club Social Parque in Buenos Aires alongside his brothers. The Club Social Parque was where the likes of Maradona, Carlos Tevez and Juan Roman Riquelme used to play.
Mac Allister then spent a short time playing for Club JJ Batista before making the move to Argentinos Juniors.
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Dad Carlos spoke to The Athletic back in 2020 about his sons’ love for the game.
He said: “I think the three of them were born to be footballers because they grew up with everything that had happened to my brother and me as footballers.”
Whilst Mac Allister himself admitted that he was destined to be a footballer.
The Brighton man told Sky Sports: “I was playing football [almost from birth].
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“Everything is about football with my family, we watch it and talk about it. We love football.
“Growing up, I watched Juan Roman Riquelme because I supported Boca Juniors and he played there. He was amazing. I really liked Pablo Aimar, too, and of course, Messi is a hero as well.”
Mac Allister signed for Brighton in 2019 and was loaned back to his home country to play for Argentinos Juniors and then Boca Juniors.
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Since 2020, he has been a regular for the Seagulls, nailing down a spot in the midfield alongside Moises Caicedo.
He will now be fully focused on trying to help his country bring home the World Cup. If they beat Croatia, they will face either France or Morocco in Sunday’s final.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Alexis Mac Allister, Brighton And Hove Albion, Argentina, Football, Football World Cup, Diego Maradona