​With the 2026 World Cup now approaching its conclusion and Sunday’s final in New York officially set between Spain and Argentina, we took the opportunity earlier this week to reflect on the tournament from a Liverpool perspective. Specifically, we asked Liverpool Offside readers to decide which Liverpool player they believe has delivered the strongest individual performance at the World Cup.
Heading into the vote, it looked like the contest would likely come down to two standout Reds. On one side was Alexis Mac Allister, who has once again played a vital role in Argentina’s midfield as the reigning champions pushed their way to a second consecutive World Cup final. With Argentina now just one win away from back-to-back World Cup titles, Mac Allister’s influence has been impossible to ignore. On the other side was Cody Gakpo, whose Netherlands side were eliminated on penalties in the Round of 32, but who still emerged as his country’s most dangerous attacking player throughout their run in the tournament.
Now, the results of the latest TLO SB Nation Reacts poll, conducted in partnership with FanDuel, are in. The verdict from Liverpool Offside readers is clear: Alexis Mac Allister has been voted the Liverpool player with the best individual tournament at the 2026 World Cup.
Gakpo finished second in the voting, but the gap was significant enough to make Mac Allister the comfortable winner. While the Dutch forward earned plenty of recognition for his attacking displays and his ability to carry much of the Netherlands’ threat, he could not match the support for Mac Allister, whose consistency, energy, and importance to Argentina’s structure have stood out from the group stage through to the final. Alexander Isak also made a strong impression on Liverpool supporters, finishing third in the poll and earning recognition as one of the more impressive Reds at the World Cup.
All eyes will now turn to Sunday’s World Cup final, where Mac Allister and Argentina will attempt to complete a remarkable title defence. It will not be an easy task. Spain enter the final as favourites after an impressive tournament of their own, and their squad includes new Liverpool signing Victor Muñoz. However, Muñoz arrived at the World Cup carrying a minor injury and, despite being part of Spain’s squad, has yet to play a single minute for the Iberian side. Whether he features in the final remains to be seen, but his presence adds another Liverpool storyline to what is already a fascinating match.
For Liverpool fans, Mac Allister’s performances for Argentina have been particularly interesting given the questions that surrounded him during the 2025-26 club season. It was a difficult campaign for the midfielder at Anfield, one so disappointing that some supporters began to wonder whether he was still capable of performing consistently at the highest level. His form dipped, his influence waned, and Liverpool often struggled to get the best out of a player who had previously looked so composed, intelligent, and reliable in midfield.
The World Cup, however, has offered a very different picture. In Argentina colours, Mac Allister has looked sharp, disciplined, and full of purpose. He has covered ground, linked play, supported attacks, protected the defence, and provided the kind of balanced midfield presence that made him such a valuable player in the first place. His tournament has reminded Liverpool supporters of the quality he possesses and why he remains such an important figure for both club and country.
Naturally, that has led to a new question among many Liverpool fans: was Mac Allister, consciously or subconsciously, holding something back during the club season in order to be ready for Argentina’s World Cup title defence? It is impossible to know the answer, and it would be unfair to reduce a difficult Liverpool campaign to one simple explanation. Form, fitness, team structure, confidence, and tactical issues can all play a role in how a player performs over the course of a long season.
Still, whatever caused his struggles at Anfield, there is no denying the quality of Mac Allister’s World Cup performances. He has been one of Argentina’s most important players, one of the most impressive Liverpool representatives at the tournament, and, according to TLO readers, the clear standout Red of the 2026 World Cup. Now Liverpool supporters will be hoping that, regardless of whether Argentina lift the trophy again on Sunday, Mac Allister can bring that same World Cup form back to Merseyside.