This particular debate related to the Argentina vs Algeria match has reached FIFA. Algeria made an official protest against the 0-3 defeat, stating that several decisions made during the match changed the results of the game.
According to Reuters, Algeria has pointed to some episodes of the match in their official letter to FIFA's refereeing committee that they are not happy about. In particular, one of the most discussed points is related to Lionel Messi and has received much attention from the media and social networks.
Algeria stated that during the first half of the match, Lionel Messi, who plays for Argentina, stepped on the shin of Algeria's captain Aïssa Mandi. As a result, there were questions whether Messi deserved a tougher punishment.
After footage went viral on social media, many fans demanded that Messi be shown a red card. However, the match referee, Szymon Marciniak, neither issued a card nor took any other disciplinary action. Messi remained on the pitch for the entire match and later scored a hat-trick, decisively swinging the game in Argentina's favor.
Algeria's complaint is not limited to Messi alone; the team has also raised an issue regarding a second incident involving Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. The Algerian side alleges that Mac Allister used his elbow while challenging Ibrahim Maza in the second half. They claim the incident occurred in close proximity to the referee, yet no action was taken. The match was officiated by the experienced Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who had also officiated the 2022 World Cup final.
Amidst the controversy, Messi delivered a magnificent performance on the pitch. The Argentina captain kicked off his 2026 World Cup campaign in memorable fashion, single-handedly dismantling the Algerian challenge. Messi first gave Argentina the lead with a stunning long-range goal. He then scored on a rebound to make it 2-0 and completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a brilliant curling shot. This marked Messi's first-ever hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history. With this feat, he also equaled the record for the most goals scored in men's World Cup history.
After scoring three goals in this match, Messi's total World Cup goal tally reached 16, matching the record held by legendary German striker Miroslav Klose. This achievement came just days before his 39th birthday and marked the 20th anniversary of his first World Cup goal. Additionally, it was his 200th international match for Argentina, making the performance even more special.
There has been no official response from FIFA regarding Algeria's complaint so far. It will be interesting to see whether the refereeing committee reviews the matter. Looking ahead, Argentina's next match is against Austria, while Algeria will aim to bounce back in the tournament by securing a win against Jordan. For now, the controversy-which has sparked a fresh debate regarding refereeing in the 2026 World Cup-is garnering as much attention as Messi's hat-trick.
%20(3).jpg)
