‘100% a red card’: Lionel Messi’s entire World Cup changed on lucky ref decision for Argentina

Lionel Messi stole headlines with a magnificent hat trick in Argentina’s World Cup-opening win over Algeria.

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The all-time great probably shouldn’t have even been on the pitch for his third goal, though. He somehow avoided a red card on one of the nastiest tackles you’ll see in this entire tournament.

Messi stomped midway up the calf of an Algerian player dribbling away from him.

With the spikes involved, up high, the kind of challenge that can be called a «leg breaker» — it’s hard to believe Messi wasn’t sent off:

Messi just got away with an absolutely DISGUSTING challenge to an Algeria defenders leg.

Red card or not?pic.twitter.com/2ZU2B5j4oH

— Banter FC (@FCBanter_) June 17, 2026

Analysts all had their say after the match, and the guys from ESPN certainly felt like Messi’s night should’ve been done:

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«It’s 100% a red card for Lionel Messi. It should’ve been.»

Ale Moreno and Nedum Onuoha react to Messi’s challenge against Algeria’s Aïssa Mandi. pic.twitter.com/0h2dMLYk4l

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 17, 2026

Somehow, he stayed on the pitch.

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Why didn’t Messi get a red card?

There’s no way to know for sure how the officiating crew, and the VAR, felt this wasn’t a red-worthy challenge.

What would Messi have had to do more than that to get sent off?

It’s hard to not speculate that him being Messi had something to do with it.

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What would’ve happened if Messi got a red card?

Argentina still likely would’ve held on and defeated Algeria even down a man.

Messi would’ve then been suspended for their next match in the group stage.

Every step of this journey counts, and missing Messi for an entire game could’ve impacted group seeding, which impacts knockout matchups, which impacts the chances of repeating as World Cup champions.

Instead, Argentina somehow don’t have to worry about that, because Messi miraculously was spared.

Read more Lionel Messi hat trick today: Updated World Cup goals, highlights from Argentina vs. Algeria

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