FIFA is accused of rigging the deal to help Messi avoid a red card.

Lionel Messi became the center of controversy when he escaped punishment after a dangerous tackle that angered many fans.

Messi's controversial moment.

In Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J of the 2026 World Cup on June 17th, the 38-year-old superstar scored a hat-trick to help the defending champions get off to a perfect start. However, amidst that sublime performance, a collision sparked intense debate.

In the 31st minute, during a challenge with Aissa Mandi, Messi's studs were reportedly seen striking the Algerian defender's calf. Mandi immediately fell to the ground in pain after the collision, while television footage showed it was a rather dangerous incident.

However, referee Szymon Marciniak did not issue a card, and the VAR team did not request a review of the incident. The match continued as normal, much to the dismay of many fans.

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On social media, numerous opinions suggest that Messi was extremely lucky to escape punishment. Some fans commented that any other player in a similar situation could have received a direct red card.

One account wrote: "This was a clear red card. It's a shame Messi got away with it on the biggest stage in the world ." Another commented: "If it were any other player, they would definitely have been sent off." Even one fan asserted: "Let's see the same thing happen to Ronaldo. It feels like everything is set up for the two of them to face each other."

However, there were also many opinions defending Messi. This group argued that it was merely an unintentional tackle during a challenge, with no signs of deliberately trying to injure the opponent, so the referee's decision was reasonable.

Putting all the controversies behind him, Messi continued to shine in the second half. He completed his first hat-trick at the 2026 World Cup, simultaneously raising his total number of World Cup goals to 16, equaling the record of legendary Miroslav Klose.

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Source: https://znews.vn/fifa-bi-to-dan-xep-giup-messi-thoat-the-do-post1660723.html