World Cup 2026: Fans Criticize Referee and VAR After Messi Avoids Booking for Algeria Tackle

World Cup supporters flooded social media with accusations that the tournament is rigged after Lionel Messi avoided a red card for a stamp on an opponent, according to the Daily Mail.

Messi went on to score a stunning hat‑trick as Argentina beat Algeria 3‑0 in Kansas City on Tuesday night.

The controversy began when Messi appeared to stamp on the calf and Achilles area of Algeria’s Aissa Mandi from behind while attempting a tackle. Mandi went down, looking visibly hurt, and replays suggested Messi might have faced serious punishment from the referee.

However, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak let the incident slide, and the match’s VAR did not intervene.

The absence of any sanction angered viewers at home, many of whom said that if another player had committed the same tackle they would have been sent off.

One user wrote, “Messi escaping red. No VAR check. Jesus. Just give Argentina the trophy.”

Another commented, “If that was any player besides Messi it would’ve been red.”

A third added, “It’s so obvious that FIFA is going to protect Messi again this World Cup. That should have easily been a red card. Expect the same with (Cristiano) Ronaldo. It’s going to be rigged for them to play against each other.”

Another fan posted, “Disgraceful. Messi should get a red but VAR doesn’t work anymore.”

Yet another replied, “That should be a red card. Messi stamped on his calf. What are we doing?”

“I love Messi,” one fan said, “but he should have got a red there. Not even a yellow card is wild.”

Messi’s hat‑trick matched Miroslav Klose’s record for most goals in a single World Cup, giving thousands of Argentina fans inside Arrowhead Stadium a moment they will never forget.

He scored his first goal early in the match from a pass by Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, added a second early in the second half, and netted a third just before being substituted for a standing ovation.

The trio of goals came exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro in Germany. He had scored in that match as well, making him only the second player from Rosario to score in five World Cup editions.

With 16 goals in six World Cup appearances, Messi’s hat‑trick was his 61st career goal and his 11th for the national team. It also marked the fifth consecutive World Cup match in which he has scored.