'If it was another player…' — Fans furious as Messi escapes red card during hat-trick masterclass vs Algeria
Messi inspired Argentina with a brilliant hat-trick, but what should have been a perfect night quickly turned controversial as fans argued that another player would have been sent off for the same challenge.
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Algerian in Argentina’s World Cup opener | IMAGO
Messi escaped punishment for a harsh challenge on Algeria’s Aïssa Mandi
🖥️💥 Ridículo estrepitoso del VAR en el Argentina – Argelia.
👉🏻 Messi clava los tacos por detrás en el gemelo de Mandi, doblándoselo con uso de fuerza excesiva.
❌ 𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗔 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗔.
▪️ El VAR, con una cobardía absoluta, decidió desentenderse de la acción. pic.twitter.com/GCd4F19mph
— Archivo VAR (@ArchivoVAR) June 17, 2026
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Argentina’s legendary captain Lionel Messi | IMAGO