Polish referee Szymon Marciniak lifts Algeria's defender #02 Aissa Mandi as he reacts in pain next to Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City on June 16, 2026. Picture: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP
Image: ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP
He may be the darling of world football, but there’s little denying that Lionel Messi was fortunate to avoid a red card in Argentina’s 3-0 Fifa World Cup win over Algeria on Wednesday.
Having already scored the opening goal, Messi lunged into a tackle from behind on Algerian captain Aïssa Mandi during the first half.
Video replays appeared to show Messi making clear contact with Mandi’s calf from behind, sending the defender tumbling to the ground.
Although play was stopped, referee Szymon Marciniak opted not to book Messi at all.
SuperSport’s studio pundits, meanwhile, suggested that Messi was extremely fortunate to escape without punishment, arguing that the challenge warranted far more scrutiny than it received.
Messi would go on to complete a hat-trick, drawing level with German legend Miroslav Klose as the leading goalscorer in Fifa World Cup history with 16 goals.
With Messi facing no suspension and Argentina among the favourites to retain their crown, there is every chance that the 38-year-old could leave the tournament with yet another individual record to his name.
However, any such achievement will inevitably be viewed through the lens of Wednesday’s controversial moment, with many believing he was lucky to remain on the pitch long enough to score his second and third goals.
A red card would have resulted in a one-match suspension and represented a significant setback for both Messi and Argentina in the early stages of the tournament.
Instead, the World Cup winner now has another opportunity to etch his name into football history when Argentina face Austria on Monday.
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