Alexis Mac Allister couldn't hide his elation as Argentina dramatically turned around their World Cup round-of-16 clash against Egypt, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with just 12 minutes of normal time remaining.
What happened in the match?
The holders trailed 0-2 and seemed destined for home, but a remarkable 13-minute spell saw them score three times and complete an incredible turnaround. The win was marred by controversy, however, as Egypt had a goal harshly chalked off after a VAR review when leading 1-0.
Mac Allister's reaction to the win
The Liverpool midfielder took to Instagram after the game with a celebratory post in his mother tongue of Spanish, with the last two words containing an expletive. With his words translated into English, he wrote: 'In the face of adversity, above all. This group is massive. Let's enjoy the road. Thank you for always accompanying us. Come on Argentina, [sic] F it!'
Mac Allister's performance against Egypt
Mac Allister's own performance was mixed, with the 27-year-old winning four duels and three tackles, getting one shot on target and recording one key pass, but also missing one 'big chance' and being dribbled past four times (Sofascore). The Reds' number 10 was involved in a controversial moment shortly before Enzo Fernandez's stoppage-time winner when he appeared to pull Hamdy Fathy's shirt in the Argentine penalty area, but no foul was given and the world champions broke to score at the other end.
What comes next for Argentina and Mac Allister?
Argentina march on towards a last-eight tie against Switzerland at the weekend, with Mac Allister retaining hope of winning the trophy back-to-back, a feat that no country has managed since Brazil in 1962. The midfielder will feel that he has a trophy to win over the next fortnight, and from a Liverpool perspective, hopefully he can carry the defiant air of his social media activity into his performances on the pitch throughout next season, especially after a highly disappointing 2025/26 campaign by his standards.
The road to the World Cup quarter-finals
Argentina's dramatic win sets up a quarter-final tie against Switzerland, with the world champions looking to continue their title defense. Mac Allister and his teammates will be focused on the task at hand, with the midfielder's Instagram post reflecting his determination and resilience in the face of adversity.