The legendary forwards have been competing at the highest level of the beautiful game for two decades now, with Mac Allister’s compatriot winning eight Ballon d’Ors and Ronaldo taking home five.
Many fans and pundits believe Messi proved that he is the greatest of all time by inspiring Argentina to glory at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Liverpool midfielder Mac Allister played a key role in the penalty-shootout victory over France three years ago, but he believes that Messi had already proven himself a better player than his Portuguese rival.
“Maybe it is because I am Argentinian.
“I really respect Cristiano Ronaldo, but for me, Messi is the best, and there will be no one like him.
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“I think everybody will be sad to lose the best player in the world (when Messi retires).
“He has given so much to this sport, and I am pretty sure that people will miss him. He gave everything.
“It is a pleasure to play alongside him. He is the best player I have ever seen, and I don’t think that is going to change.
“I am so happy we won a World Cup together; that is not an easy thing.
“I really admire him on and off the pitch.”
Messi is undeniably in the twilight of his career, plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami.
However, Mac Allister believes his Argentina teammate will resist the urge to transition into coaching following retirement.
“I don’t think he will be involved in anything else after his retirement,” he said.
“What I have heard, I think he is saying that he is not planning to (go into coaching).”
Mac Allister ‘so happy’ to play with Isak
The battle for the Swedish striker’s signature spanned most of the summer transfer window, and Mac Allister admits that even the Liverpool dressing room grew bored of the saga as it dragged on until deadline day.
“At the beginning, it was a big thing,” he said.
“After we got a bit tired of it because it was too long, but we all know the player he is.
“I think he is going to be really important, and I am really happy to have him here.
“Maybe the other club (Newcastle) are not happy, but that is the way that football works, and in the end Liverpool paid quite a lot of money.
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“So it is good for both clubs, it is good for him because it is what he wanted, and we are so happy to have him because we know the player that he is, and we have suffered him a couple of times as well.”
The Reds can also still rely on stalwart winger Mohamed Salah, and Mac Allister says that he learns from the Egyptian icon every day.
“Everything he does is quite special,” he added. “That is why he is always in this shape, physically and mentally.
“There are a couple of things (he does) that he does not want to tell us. He hides them, but we can see the way he works on and off the pitch, especially in the gym. He is there every day, taking care of his body.
“These small details make the difference, so we are so happy to have him, and I learn from him every single day.
“One day I want to get to his level in terms of how he takes care of his body.”
