<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/liverpool">Liverpool</a> are coming off a stellar campaign, having clinched the Premier League title with matches to spare. While their early exit from the UEFA Champions League was a disappointment, the Reds found renewed strength throughout the season, led by standout performances from Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Colombian winger Luis Díaz. The pair recently shared their thoughts on soccer’s greatest icon — and were in full agreement.



In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Mac Allister expressed both joy and confidence in his current form, stating, “I think I’m in the best moment of my career.” When asked about the greatest player in history, the World Cup winner didn’t hesitate in his response.



The Liverpool midfielder once again paid tribute to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a>, declaring the Argentine captain as the greatest of all time. “Leo is the best in history. I grew up watching him play, and for me, he’s the greatest,” said the former Boca Juniors and Argentinos Juniors star. Díaz, seated alongside him, nodded in agreement — echoing the same sentiment.



Mac Allister also acknowledged the generational debate that surrounds the GOAT conversation. “People who experienced Maradona live hold a very special place for him and think he was the best ever, too. So, it’s a complicated discussion,” he said with a smile.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20250505_BUS_391622_messi-14-1024x576_1e63c860.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="lionel messi" class="wp-image-373571" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/04/09154053/messi-14.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts during a match </figcaption></figure>



<h2>Díaz names his Colombian idols, praises Messi</h2>



During the same interview, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/luis-diaz">Luis Díaz</a> also shared some of his personal soccer idols from Colombia, highlighting national legends who once played alongside him. “Falcao is one of the best I’ve seen, and I was lucky to have him as a teammate. Valderrama is another, though I didn’t watch him much growing up. I’d say those two, plus James [Rodríguez],” Díaz said.


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Before naming Messi as the best <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer">soccer</a> player in South America — and in history — Díaz joked about his own candidacy. “Best in South America? No question — it’s me,” he said, laughing, as Mac Allister joined in. “But seriously, for me, it’s Messi. Everything he’s accomplished… he was an inspiration when I was a kid.”



<h2>Mac Allister didn’t expect title to come so easily</h2>



Despite Liverpool’s dominant finish to the domestic season, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/alexis-mac-allister">Mac Allister</a> admitted he didn’t anticipate such a smooth path to the title under new head coach Arne Slot. “I didn’t have the feeling that we’d win the league as comfortably as we did,” he said. “We’re in a process that’s just beginning.” Liverpool ultimately sealed the championship with a resounding 5–1 victory over Tottenham — a match that included a goal from Mac Allister himself.

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Even though there’s still a lot to be played for this season, English clubs are already starting to look ahead. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manchester-united" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manchester United</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/liverpool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liverpool</a>, for instance, know they’ll have work to do in the summer to challenge for the title next year.
The lifelong rivals are far away from Arsenal and Manchester City, who are involved in an exciting title race in the final weeks of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> campaign. But it looks like they’ll have to outbid the one another to get one of their targets.
Both the Red Devils and the Reds are believed to have strong interest in an Argentine World Cup champion at <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/qatar-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qatar 2022</a> who is set to leave his club at the end of the season.
<h2>Report: Man Utd, Liverpool set to offer for Alexis Mac Allister</h2>
According to Fabrizio Romano, Alexis Mac Allister and his camp consider a summer move from Brighton done. The midfielder’s stock has significantly increased since his brilliantWorld Cup performance, but he accepted to wait until June to play elsewhere.
The transfer market expert claims Mac Allister’s agents will start talks with Manchester United and Liverpool soon, as the end of the season is looming around. At 24, the Argentine player looks ready for a bigger challenge.
 
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Mac Allister is under contract with Brighton until 2025, so even if the club is ready to let him go, his asking price will probably be high. According to Transfermarkt, his market value is €42 million.

Report: Man Utd, Liverpool to battle it out for Argentine World Cup champion

Report: Man Utd, Liverpool to battle it out for Argentine World Cup champion - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/why-is-lionel-messi-not-playing-for-argentina-in-2022-world-cup-qualifiers-20220126-0045.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lionel Messi</a> is more than just scoring goals and being a human highlight reel player, he is also trying to set an example for everyone, especially on the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/chile-vs-argentina-predictions-odds-and-how-to-watch-conmebol-2022-world-cup-qualifiers-in-the-us-20220126-0036.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national team</a>. <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/lionel-messi-to-miss-argentina-world-cup-qualifiers-matches-against-chile-and-colombia-20220119-0019.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The PSG super star</a> has informed his national team-mates to stop calling the Brighton midfielder “ginger”.
According to The Sun, AlexisMac Allister had told Messi during one of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/how-many-games-has-argentinas-national-team-been-undefeated-20220127-0001.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Argentina</a>’s training camps that he did not like to be called “ginger”. “Ginger” or “Colorado” in Argentina is referred to those who have reddish hair and there is an urban legend that people with red hair carry with them bad luck in Argentina.
“I remember everyone called me ‘Colo’, which is ginger in Argentina. I don’t like it much and he told the team-mates that. (Messi) said, ‘He doesn’t like to be called Colo, so don’t call him that!” Mac Allister also went on to mention his admiration for <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/barcelona-idol-begs-lionel-messi-to-return-amid-chaotic-club-situation-20220119-0018.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lionel Messi</a>.
<h2>Alexis Mac Allister on Lionel Messi</h2>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="412" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:412" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20220127_BUS_183327_lionel_messi_x1x_crop1643295895708.jpg_22069893_90fda206.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=412" width="740" height="412"></figure><figcaption> Lionel Messi (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images) </figcaption></figure>
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“I trained with (Messi) when I was in the Argentinian squad twice, but I didn’t play with him. It was fantastic, the same as in the matches he trains. It’s something you cannot believe” the Brighton midfielder stated.
Mac Allister also told the story of how when he met Lionel Messi, “I was red, completely red. I didn’t even want to say hello. I was really nervous even to meet one of the best players in the world, but it was fantastic, of course. It’s something I’m not going to forget. It was magic when my dad played with Maradona and I could train with Lionel Messi.”

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Report: Lionel Messi orders the Argentine team to not call Alexis Mac Allister ‘ginger’

Report: Lionel Messi orders the Argentine team to not call Alexis Mac Allister ‘ginger’ - Bolavip US

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