Alisson Becker is at the centre of a growing storm among Liverpool fans after revealing that he deliberately missed matches for the club to focus on his fitness ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The Brazilian goalkeeper was absent for nine of Liverpool's final 10 games of the 2025/26 season, including both legs of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, after sustaining a hamstring injury in training. While he had been widely expected to return before the season's end, Alisson did not feature again until the last match of the campaign — a draw against Brentford.

Alisson's own words spark the controversy

Speaking to Brazilian outlet Estadao ahead of Brazil's FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Morocco, the 33-year-old was asked about mounting criticism of his fitness record. His response drew immediate reaction.