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Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has called on his teammates to draw inspiration from the legendary Diego Maradona as they prepare for a blockbuster 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final against England on Wednesday.
The Liverpool star said memories of Maradona’s iconic display against England at the 1986 World Cup have motivated him ahead of another historic encounter between two of international football’s fiercest rivals.
Argentina and England will face off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s World Cup final, renewing a rivalry shaped by decades of unforgettable football moments.
Maradona famously inspired Argentina to a 2-1 victory over England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, scoring the controversial “Hand of God” goal before producing one of the greatest solo goals in football history. Argentina went on to win the tournament, while Mac Allister was part of the squad that helped the Albiceleste reclaim the title in Qatar in 2022 under Lionel Messi.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Mac Allister admitted he has recently been revisiting footage of Maradona’s exploits.
“I don’t know if it’s just by chance or what, but in the last few days I have started seeing videos of Diego, of the ’86 game and other things that obviously help and make you want to watch them and remember them,” Mac Allister said.
The 27-year-old described Maradona as an enduring symbol of Argentine football and expressed hope that the current squad could emulate the achievements of the 1986 champions.
“Diego represents so much for the country and I hope we can do something similar to what they did in 1986,” he added.
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Mac Allister, whose father Carlos played alongside Maradona for Argentina and Boca Juniors, also acknowledged the extraordinary talent of the late football icon.
“He was able to perform things he carried inside him and it is practically impossible to do those things. Maybe only Leo (Messi) could do that,” he said.
Wednesday’s encounter will be the first World Cup meeting between Argentina and England since the 2002 tournament. Argentina are seeking a second consecutive World Cup final appearance and their third in the last four editions of the competition.
Despite England’s impressive squad, Mac Allister believes the Three Lions have not yet displayed the relentless intensity associated with Premier League football during the tournament.
“I don’t know if it’s to do with the heat, the climate or something else, but obviously they are a great team who we greatly respect,” he said.
“I imagine tomorrow’s game will be played with a lot of intensity and obviously plenty of jitters on both sides.”
With a place in the World Cup final at stake, the latest chapter of one of football’s greatest rivalries promises another compelling contest between two global heavyweights.
