Fans Furious as Messi Avoids Red Card Despite Reckless Tackle in Hat-trick Win
Argentina opened their World Cup title defense with a 3-1 victory over Algeria. Lionel Messi delivered a brilliant hat-trick, including two sublime strikes and a composed penalty. Yet the match’s biggest talking point came in the 37th minute when Messi’s studs-up challenge on Algeria captain Aïssa Mandi left fans demanding a straight red card. VAR reviewed the incident but took no further action, igniting outrage on social media. Supporters argue that any other player would have been sent off for the same foul, and clips of the tackle continue to spark heated debate. Despite matching the all-time World Cup goals record, Messi’s evening has been overshadowed by questions over refereeing standards.
Use The App To Win ₦1m
Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.