Lionel Messi produced another unforgettable display as Argentina began their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 triumph over Algeria, but the night was overshadowed by a heated controversy surrounding an unpunished foul. The Inter Miami forward claimed a stunning hat-trick to match the all-time World Cup goals record, yet many spectators and analysts felt he was fortunate to remain on the pitch long enough to complete it.

Red card debate clouds Messi’s brilliance

While fans marvelled at another exhibition of Messi’s genius, post-match discussions were dominated by a contentious moment when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner clattered into Algerian defender Aissa Mandi with what was described as a “clumsy” tackle. Replays showed Messi’s studs landing on the back of Mandi’s calf, prompting immediate protests from Algeria’s bench and waves of outrage across social media.

Despite the clear contact, the referee refrained from showing even a yellow card, while the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also opted not to intervene. The decision sparked widespread debate over whether football’s biggest stars are afforded leniency by officials at major tournaments.

Pundits call out 'special treatment'

Analysts from ESPN FC, including Ale Moreno and Nedum Onuoha, voiced their disbelief at the lack of disciplinary action. Moreno was particularly outspoken, suggesting the incident reinforced the perception that elite players receive favourable treatment. The former MLS forward remarked, “It’s 100 percent a red card for Lionel Messi. It should have been. This just feeds into the idea that top players are given special consideration. When he was close to scoring his hat-trick and goalkeeper [Luca] Zidane made a save, they even showed [FIFA president] Gianni Infantino smiling, like ‘Oh, that was close.’ It really does play into that narrative that he’s treated differently.”

Onuoha supported this view, pointing out that even the commentators seemed to downplay the challenge. “During the commentary, they didn’t even mention it,” said the former Manchester City defender. “When we watched the replay, it looked really bad, but the commentators were saying, ‘Good to see Messi pressing.’”

Refereeing and VAR scrutiny intensifies

The main frustration for many observers centred on the officiating team, led by referee Simon Marciniak, who chose not to review the incident on the monitor. Moreno questioned why VAR failed to step in for what appeared to be a clear foul. “You don’t even need a still image—just watching it live, it looked reckless,” he explained. “Then on the replay, it’s obvious. Someone has to check that. Why didn’t Simon Marciniak get called over to the screen? It should have been a red card for Lionel Messi. As much as I admire him, that was a poor, clumsy tackle. Dragging your studs across the back of someone’s calf from knee to ankle should result in a sending off.”

Onuoha echoed his colleague’s thoughts, adding, “It just felt like the officials missed the moment. When Mandi was on the ground, you could see Messi’s concern—he knew it could have been serious. I can understand how the referee missed it in real time, but for VAR to review it and still decide nothing more was needed—it’s baffling. For me, that’s a red card offence.”

Messi’s record-breaking night continues

Controversy aside, Messi’s performance with the ball was vintage. His hat-trick drew him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose atop the World Cup all-time scoring chart with 16 goals. The 38-year-old opened the scoring with a sublime long-range effort and completed his treble in the 76th minute, moving ahead of Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race after the French forward had netted twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal earlier in the day.

The result is a major relief for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, as losing Messi to suspension would have been a major setback in their title defence. Given that two yellow cards in the tournament trigger an automatic one-match ban, Messi entering the knockout stages without a booking gives Argentina a vital edge. Instead, the Inter Miami captain left the pitch celebrating his latest milestone and looking ahead to the remainder of the group phase.

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