Kevin Mac Allister, Man United’s Martínez join up with Argentina
Union St.-Gilloise defender Kevin Mac Allister has earned his first call-up to the Argentina national team as a late replacement for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, while Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez will rejoin the squad for assessment as he continues recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Mac Allister, 28, the elder brother of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, was included in Lionel Scaloni’s squad ahead of Argentina’s international friendly against Angola on Nov. 14 in Luanda. Fernández withdrew due to a knee problem, prompting Scaloni to call up the Union St.-Gilloise centre-back.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that Martínez, who has not featured for United since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in the 2–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Feb. 2, will travel to Alicante, Spain, where the team is training this week. The defender will be evaluated by Argentina’s medical staff but is not expected to feature in the friendly.
In addition to Martínez and Mac Allister, Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendía was also named in the updated squad. Atlético Madrid trio Nahuel Molina, Julián Álvarez, and Giuliano Simeone were omitted from the travelling group due to their lack of yellow fever vaccination, a mandatory entry requirement for Angola, the federation said.
Mac Allister expressed his gratitude to his teammates in a video shared by Union St.-Gilloise on Sunday, shortly after receiving the call.
“Two hours before our game today, I got the call. Tomorrow I’m flying to Alicante to be with the national team,” he said. “It’s my first time, and I know I’m not there only for myself but thanks to everyone in this dressing room. My family is very happy—my wife was already crying when I called her. It’s a dream come true.”
The defender joined Union St.-Gilloise in the summer of 2023 from Argentinos Juniors and has since become a regular starter in the Belgian Pro League, known for his composure and positional discipline.
His younger brother, Alexis, has been a key figure for Argentina since making his debut in 2019, winning both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Copa América, and scoring six goals in 41 international appearances.
The inclusion of Kevin Mac Allister underlines Scaloni’s willingness to broaden Argentina’s defensive options ahead of the next round of World Cup qualifiers, while Martínez’s presence reflects optimism about his imminent return to competitive action with Manchester United.