Marcelo on Messi’s tackle against Algeria on SporTV:
“This is a red card, but because it’s Messi there’s nothing [no card]” 😳🟥
Despite a brilliant hat-trick performance in Argentina’s World Cup opener, Lionel Messi is facing criticism for a challenge that many believe deserved a red card.
The incident occurred 31 minutes into Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria on Thursday . Replays showed Messi appearing to catch Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi on the back of the calf with his studs during a challenge . Mandi went down in pain and received treatment, but referee Szymon Marciniak only awarded a foul and did not issue a card, with VAR also choosing not to intervene .
The controversy has drawn strong reactions from pundits and fans. ESPN analysts Nedum Onuoha and Alejandro Moreno both argued Messi should have been sent off . “It’s 100% a red card for Lionel Messi. It should have been,” Moreno stated, suggesting the incident “plays along this narrative that great players get preferential treatment” . Onuoha agreed it “probably should have been a red card” and questioned why VAR didn’t call for a review .
