Lionel Messi gave Argentina the perfect start to its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. But not everyone left talking about his goals. The opening round has had a talking point in a controversial first-half challenge involving the Argentine captain and fans and pundits have been debating if the match could have taken a very different turn.
The discussion intensified after former footballer and ESPN analyst Alejandro Moreno argued that Messi should not have remained on the pitch. While Argentina celebrated a convincing 3-0 victory over Algeria, the incident has continued to divide opinions across the football world.
Lionel Messi Red Card Controversy Sparks Criticism from Alejandro Moreno
The flashpoint arrived around the half-hour mark when Messi's studs caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf. Mandi immediately went to ground in visible pain, but referee Szymon Marciniak allowed play to continue without issuing a booking. VAR also chose not to recommend an on-field review, leaving many observers surprised.
Moreno was among the strongest critics of the decision. Speaking on ESPN, he insisted the challenge crossed the line and questioned why the officials did not intervene.
“It's 100% a red card for Lionel Messi,” Moreno said on ESPN. “It should've been. I’ll tell you what else is concerning and it plays along this narrative that great players get preferential treatment. When he was about to score a hat-trick and goalkeeper [Luca] Zidane made a save, they showed [Gianni] Infantino smiling as if to say ‘that was close’. And it does play into that narrative of, ‘oh yeah, this guy’s getting a different sort of treatment.”
Moreno also expressed disbelief that Marciniak was never asked to review the tackle on the pitch.
“We don’t even have to see the still, if you see the live video, it felt like a bad challenge to begin with. Then you see the replay, and this is a bad challenge. Somebody has to take a look at this. Why was the referee Szymon Marciniak not called over to review it? It should have been a red card for Lionel Messi. As much as I love Lionel Messi, that was a clumsy challenge, a bad challenge and you’re raking the back of somebody’s calf all the way up from the knee down to his ankle. It should have been a red card,” he added.
The debate has also drawn attention because Marciniak was the referee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France, adding another layer to an already heated conversation.
Lionel Messi Delivers Record-Breaking Performance Despite the Controversy
While the officiating dominated post-match discussion, Messi's football remained extraordinary. The 38-year-old scored all three goals in Argentina's victory, recording the first World Cup hat-trick of his career and becoming the oldest player to achieve the feat at the tournament.
The performance also marked another historic milestone as Messi became the first footballer to appear in six FIFA World Cups. According to Sofascore, he earned a perfect 10 rating after registering 57 touches, four shots on target, three recoveries, three successful duels, and creating two chances.
Messi also moved level on 16 World Cup goals, further strengthening his place among the competition's greatest scorers.
Argentina will be delighted with the result, but the controversy surrounding the captain's challenge is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. As the tournament continues, the debate over whether football's biggest stars receive extra protection is set to remain firmly in the spotlight.
