Alexis Mac Allister comes from a family with strong Irish-Catholic roots, tracing back to Donabate in County Dublin. His background is often associated with the Christian tradition, although he has not personally spoken in detail about his religious beliefs in public.
Quick Profile: Alexis Mac Allister
| Full name | Alexis Mac Allister |
| Birth date | 24 December 1998 |
| Birthplace | Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Heritage | Predominantly Irish (origins in County Dublin); minor Scottish (Fife); Italian ancestry via maternal grandmother |
| Religion | Roman Catholic (Christian) |
| Net worth | £33 million (approx. $40M) |
What religion is Alexis Mac Allister?
Alexis Mac Allister is a Catholic Christian whose religious identity is rooted in his Irish Catholic heritage. His surname, Mac Allister, is an Irish Catholic name that traces back to families who migrated from Ireland. His ancestry has been traced back to Donabate in County Dublin, Ireland, though he also has some Italian ancestry through his maternal grandmother.
The confusion about his religious background arose primarily because of his unusual surname for an Argentine footballer. Some fans wondered if he might be Jewish due to the distinctly Gaelic sound of his name in the Argentine context, but his roots are Irish Catholic, not Jewish. Argentina is a country where the majority of people are of Italian or Spanish descent, making a Gaelic surname stand out considerably.
According to his father Carlos, their ancestors came from Ireland to Argentina three or four generations ago, settling first in a place called Pergamino before his father and mother married and moved to Santa Rosa in the Province of La Pampa, which is where Alexis was born. The Mac Allister name itself derives from the Gaelic Mac Alasdair, which means son of Alasdair, the latter name being the local variant of Alexander.
Mac Allister has tattoos of Jesus Christ along with inscriptions that reflect his Catholic faith and deep ties to family. These choices point unmistakably to Christian, specifically Catholic, traditions. Among his tattoos are elements that reflect his football journey and religious beliefs, with imagery of Jesus Christ and dates of significant football milestones etched in ink. These permanent markings on his body show that his faith is not something casual but rather an integral part of his identity.
While specific information about his personal beliefs or religious practices is not widely available, Argentina is predominantly Roman Catholic, with a significant portion of the population adhering to this faith. Growing up in this environment would have naturally exposed Mac Allister to Catholic traditions, values, and practices from a young age.
Early Life and Family Background
Alexis Mac Allister was born on Christmas Eve 1998 in Santa Rosa, the capital of Argentina’s La Pampa province, Allister grew up in a football-obsessed household. His older brothers Francis and Kevin are also footballers, and they are the sons of Carlos Mac Allister and nephews of Patricio Mac Allister, both retired footballers. His cousin, Luciano Guaycochea, is also a footballer, making the Mac Allister family one deeply rooted in the beautiful game.
Carlos Mac Allister, his father, is of Irish and Italian descent and had a successful career as a left-back, playing for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, and Racing Club. He won three international caps for the Argentina national team in 1993, even playing alongside Diego Maradona. After retiring from football at age 30, Carlos transitioned into politics and sports administration, serving as Secretary of Sports in the government of President Mauricio Macri from 2016 to 2019.
In 1998, the Mac Allister brothers, Carlos and Patricio, established their own sports club for youngsters, the MacAllister Sports Club. They acquired a four-hectare piece of land situated 5 km outside Santa Rosa, in La Pampa province, where they built their own club to train and promote young football players. This family venture proved instrumental in developing the talents of Carlos’s three sons, all of whom went on to become professional footballers.
His mother, Silvina Riela, provided steady support throughout his formative years, fostering a well-rounded perspective that extended beyond football. The combination of Carlos’s football expertise and Silvina’s nurturing presence created an environment that allowed Alexis to flourish both as a player and as a person.
On November 25, 2017, Mac Allister and his two brothers all played together for the first time in a match against San Lorenzo. Alexis and Francis were starters, while Kevin came on as a substitute. This historic moment for the Mac Allister family showcased the remarkable achievement of having three brothers playing professional football at the top level simultaneously.
Career Highlights
Alexis Mac Allister’s professional journey began with Club Social y Deportivo Parque before joining Argentinos Juniors’ youth setup. He made his first-team debut on October 30, 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute in a goalless home draw against Central Córdoba. He contributed with three goals in 23 appearances during his first senior campaign, as his team achieved promotion to Primera División as champions.
On January 24, 2019, Mac Allister signed for Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion on a four and a half year contract. As part of the deal, he was loaned back to Argentinos Juniors for the remainder of the season. In June 2019, Boca Juniors completed the loan signing of Mac Allister, where he scored on his debut and won the 2019 to 20 Primera División title.
His time at Brighton proved transformative. During the 2022 to 23 season, Mac Allister became Brighton’s top scorer with 10 goals, helping them finish sixth and qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time ever. His performances caught the attention of several top clubs, with Liverpool eventually securing his signature.
On June 8, 2023, Mac Allister signed for Liverpool on a five year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee, reported to be an initial £35 million and a total of £55 million including add-on fees. He was given the prestigious number 10 shirt, previously worn by Sadio Mané. His debut season at Liverpool was impressive. He ended it with 46 appearances in all competitions, 14 goal contributions including seven goals and seven assists, and a Carabao Cup winner’s medal. His ability to adapt quickly to Liverpool’s playing style and the demands of competing at the highest level demonstrated his quality and versatility.
The 2024 to 25 season saw Mac Allister establish himself as a crucial part of Liverpool’s midfield under new manager Arne Slot. He made his UEFA Champions League debut on September 17, starting in a 3 to 1 away win against Milan, and scored his first goal in the competition against Bologna on October 2. On November 27, Mac Allister scored the first goal and was named man of the match in a 2 to 0 win over Real Madrid, which was Liverpool’s first victory against the Spanish club in 15 years.
On the international stage, Mac Allister has been equally impressive. He made his senior international debut in 2019 and was part of the Argentina squads that won the 2022 Finalissima, 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Copa América. During the 2022 World Cup, he scored his first international goal in the last group game against Poland to open the scoring in an eventual 2 to 0 win. He also assisted Ángel Di María’s goal in the final against France to make the score 2 to 0.
Career Earnings
Alexis Mac Allister signed a 5 year, $39 million contract with Liverpool, with an average annual salary of $7.8 million. His contract earns him £150,000 per week salary. Liverpool signed Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2023 for a reported £35 million in base transfer fee. It could rise to £55 million if some add-on clauses are met.
The new figure of £150,000 per week places him joint sixth on the club’s wage bill alongside Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike.
Personal Life
Beyond football, Alexis Mac Allister is known as a family-oriented, down-to-earth individual. He was in a long-term relationship with Camila Mayán from 2018 to 2023, and in 2023 he began dating model Ailén Cova. In late 2025 the couple welcomed a daughter, making Mac Allister a father, a role he cherishes as much as his role on the field. He has spoken often about his parents; he credits his late-night study sessions with math to his father Carlos, and his mother Silvina is affectionately celebrated for consoling him during tough times (as he recalled in a Players’ Tribune essay).
