The Mac Allister brothers Alexis and Kevin van Argentina played an unusual family performance on Sunday by raising championship trophies on the same afternoon in different countries, although neither participated in the last game of their teams.
Alexis received the Premier League trophy in Anfield after Liverpool had secured the title last month, while his older brother Kevin underwent a Nervy afternoon in Belgium when his Clubbond Saint-Gilloise ended a waiting time for the championship.
While Kevin was suspended for their last fixed value of the season at home near Ghent, where a 3-1 victory was enough to see them win a first title since 1935, Alexis was the last match of Liverpool at home in Crystal Palace to prevent injury.
“I think he played the last part of the season with the Argentinian mentality he has,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
“Never give up whatever he feels, but it's not smart to play a player who doesn't have a big injury, but something to take a risk with them.”
The 26-year-old midfielder, who was on the side of Argentina who won the World Championship in Qatar, moved to Liverpool from Brighton & Hove Albion two seasons ago and started 30 games in their title-winning campaign.
Kevin, a year older, plays the field further, but shows the same resilient characteristics as his brother.
Het Nieuwsblad described the attacker on Monday as “a soldier who never gives up”.
“He played with a mask, a connected shoulder and a recorded knee in recent weeks, but refused to give up because of an injury.”
Kevin said it had been difficult not to be on the field to help his teammates.
“It was difficult to view the game from the sidelines. I was calm, although the first half was not our best,” he said reporters.
A third brother, the 29-year-old Francis, is currently playing in the top flight of Argentina. All three brothers started at Argentinos Juniors and first appeared together in 2017.
Their father Carlos won three caps for Argentina and played with Boca Juniors, where he won a competition championship in 1992.