Did Lionel Messi avoid red card after his challenge on Algerian player?
Fans have criticised the referee for not booking Messi.
Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign began with a Group J encounter against Algeria. Lionel Messi stole the show with a spectacular hat-trick.
In the process, the maestro tied the historical FIFA World Cup goal total of Miroslav Klose. Both legendary attackers now hold the top spot with 16 goals apiece.
But if the referee had been less kind about a contentious challenge Lionel Messi made soon after scoring the first goal, he might not have even remained on the pitch.
In the 17th minute, Messi broke the impasse for Argentina. A momentous occasion that also made the captain cry. However, Messi was caught in an awkward, studs-up challenge on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi just after scoring the first goal.
Lionel Messi avoids a red card after a brutal challenge
Despite the reckless nature of the tackle, the referee chose not to book Messi. He sounded his whistle, giving Algeria just a free kick.
Fans criticised the official on social media for letting the Argentine superstar off the hook in the first half. This could have been a game-changing moment as the 38-year-old went on to score two more goals to seal Argentina’s commanding 3-0 triumph.
While Messi’s hat trick made headlines in sports, many fans were more interested in the officiating question. They want to know how a challenge on Mandi can go unpunished. In the end, the match is decided by the same player.
“It’s an honour. Mbappe and Ronaldo (Brazilian) are there, but those numbers don’t mean anything. They’re just statistics. Ronaldo is one of the greatest, and he’s not in first place, so it’s just one statistic,” Lionel Messi said as quoted as saying by Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
“We were well-positioned when we had the ball, and we managed the game very well. We had the experience of the last one, and nobody gives anything away,” Messi, Player of the Match, said after the match.
How many goals did Lionel Messi score?
He scored three goals in the game.
What foul did Messi commit against the opponent?
He stamped his foot on the back of the player’s leg.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.