Lionel Messi made history on Tuesday night by matching the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals, but his milestone was overshadowed by a disputed foul that many viewers said should have led to an ejection. The incident came in the 32nd minute, after Messi had already scored and Argentina was leading 1-0.
According to the report, Messi went for a ball near Algeria’s Elissa Mendy, missed it, and instead caught the opponent with a hard tackle. The studs of Messi’s boot struck Mendy on the back of the leg. Algeria was awarded a free kick, but the VAR team did not intervene and Messi was not even shown a yellow card.
The decision sparked anger on social media. One user on X wrote, “Even a yellow? That’s insane,” while another said, “How is that not a yellow, it’s beyond me.” A third added that it should have been at least a yellow, even if the foul was not intentional. Others went further, saying, “Messi should have been sent off. Anyone not named Leo Messi gets a red card for sure.”
Some users suggested the referees may have been instructed to be lenient, especially after three red cards were already issued in the tournament’s opening match. The article concludes that Messi was again at the center of attention, this time because of a minor incident that marred a major performance.
