Alexis Mac Allister believes that replicating Diego Maradona's brilliance on the football pitch is almost beyond human reach — with one notable exception: Lionel Messi.

The Liverpool midfielder made the remarks as Argentina prepare to face England in a highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Wednesday.

Mac Allister, whose father Carlos played alongside Maradona during his career, has long spoken of his admiration for Messi, often saying that sharing a pitch with the Inter Miami forward feels like playing an entirely different sport.

"It's hard to draw inspiration from what Diego did; it's almost impossible to do the things he did on the pitch. Only Leo can do that."

The midfielder also spoke of how footage from Maradona's iconic 1986 FIFA World Cup campaign continues to serve as motivation for the current Argentina squad.

"These days, a lot of things pop up on social media, videos of Diego and the '86 match. Watching and remembering them helps us. For us, Diego is a hugely important symbol for our country. Hopefully we can do something similar to what they achieved."

Premier League knowledge as an edge

Mac Allister acknowledged that his experience competing in the Premier League with Liverpool could offer Argentina a tactical advantage against England — though he was careful not to overstate it.

"Having that experience is a plus, but it doesn't guarantee anything. They have players of great quality who have also played in these kinds of situations with their clubs and in big matches."

He noted that England have appeared somewhat less explosive in this tournament than they typically do in domestic football, speculating that fatigue or the heat may be contributing factors.

"I play against them every weekend and it's clear that physically they're very strong. But in this World Cup, and I don't know if it's tiredness, they don't have the pace that characterises the Premier League. I don't know if it's because of the heat or something else."

Despite those observations, Mac Allister was measured in his assessment of Argentina's opponents, insisting that the team's focus remains firmly on their own game plan.

"It's clear they're a great team, and we respect them a lot. Still, we trust in what we do, and we're not going to change that."