YESTERDAY ARGENTINA TOOK ON Poland in the final group game of the World Cup. Argentina won 2-0 at a cantar against a hapless Polish side that offered little to no threat on Wednesday.
For year's traditional Argentinian names included the likes of Sergio, Lionel, Javier, or some sort of Spanish variation, but yesterday a new untraditional name announced himself on the world stage.
Dad Carlos on Alexis Mac Allister's heritage: “According to our family, we came from Ireland, rather than Scotland.
“We came to Pergamino, three or four generations ago, and later my father and mother moved to Santa Rosa where Alexis was born." #BHAFChttps://t.co/3SfrSFLVGd— Andy Naylor (@AndyNaylorBHAFC) December 1, 2022
The first half of the game between Argentina and Poland ended 0-0.
However Brighton & Hove Albion superstar Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the second half, before Julian Alvarez scored a second to send Lionel Scaloni's side through to the last-16.
Mac Allister started his senior career with Argentinos Juniors before joining Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019 on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The 23-year-old playing in his first World Cup will not be an unfamiliar name to many people who watch the Premier League every week, but for people who weren't aware of his origins this week, they might have been a little confused that a man with a name that wasn't left at home with the Scottish national team.
Explaining his surname ahead of featuring for Argentina at the 2020 Olympics, he revealed: "The surname Mac Allister comes from Ireland."
As well as the Fife ancestry, Mac Allister's family history can be traced back to Irish people who moved to Argentina back in the 1830s.
Over a million Argentinians can in fact trace their heritage back to Irish roots.
Another interview back in July 30, 2020 from his dad Carlos Mac Allister explained the matter futher
Speaking to The Athletic, he said, “We came to Argentina, to a place called Pergamino, but that was three or four generations ago, and later my father and mother married and moved to a different place — Santa Rosa in the Province of La Pampa, which is where Alexis was born.
“Now, when we get together, they always say that our ancestors came from Ireland. I don’t know whether the ones before them were from Scotland, and went to Ireland from Scotland, and then our ancestors came here. But we say that we came from Ireland.”
Carlos made more than 300 league appearances in a 13-year career with Argentinos Juniors, Boca, Racing Club and Ferro Carril Oeste and looked more Scottish than his son as a player
A picture can be found below.
Next up for Mac Allister and Argentina is Australia in the last-16 on Saturday.
Seeing the Carlos Mac Allister card make the rounds, and a reminder what a badass he is. Teammate of Maradona at Boca mid 90s. Has 3 sons who are pros including Alexis at @OfficialBHAFC .
Baller.. in many ways. pic.twitter.com/k9qtopCO2I— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) October 14, 2022
