Argentine star footballer Lionel Messi is once again in the spotlight after scoring a stunning hat-trick against Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup match in Kansas City on Tuesday evening. Argentina won the match 3-0.
However, fans noticed an unusual development when the referee did not penalize the striker for an apparent foul.
Eagle-eyed viewers spotted Messi striking from behind Algerian Aissa Mandi’s calf and Achilles region while making a tackle. According to Internet users, it was clearly a foul that deserved a red card, but the referee did not even warn the captain of the Argentine national team.
Several pages of X, known for sharing football-related news, shared slow-motion clips of the alleged misconduct which were later removed due to copyright claims.
Fans accused the World Cup of being rigged due to the master dribbler’s lack of punishment.
One of the fans harshly criticized the player and called him a “FIFA Boy”. They wrote: “He’s a FIFA boy. Always the favorite, he still couldn’t compete in terms of goals with Ronaldo (THE GOAT).”
Another added: “If it was any player other than Messi he would have been red.” A third said: “I love Messi, but not giving him even a yellow card for this foul is madness. » The referee did not request a VAR check.
Not only fans, but also former footballers have also expressed concerns about the lack of consequences for the player’s actions.
Talk to ESPNformer football stars Ale Moreno and Nedum Onuoha said: “It’s 100% a red card for Lionel Messi. It should have been.”
Messi, FIFA or the referee have yet to react to the criticism.
