World Cup fans took to social media to claim the tournament is rigged on Tuesday night after Lionel Messi avoided a red card for a stamp on an opponent.
The superstar scored the opening goal of Argentina’s game against Algeria after 17 minutes in Kansas City with a breathtaking solo run and powerful finish.
But Messi quickly became embroiled in controversy after he appeared to stamp on the calf and Achilles area of Algeria’s Aissa Mandi from behind while he tried to make a tackle.
Mandi went down and looked to be in pain before replays suggested Messi may have been at risk of serious punishment from the referee.
But the Inter Miami forward was somehow let off entirely by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, while the game’s VAR also didn’t appear to check the incident.
The lack of punishment imposed on the Argentine star infuriated fans watching at home, who claimed if anybody else had made the same tackle they would have been in trouble.
World Cup fans think the tournament is rigged after Lionel Messi avoided a red card for a stamp
Messi appeared to stamp on the calf and Achilles area of Algeria’s Aissa Mandi from behind
One commented: ‘Messi escaping red. No VAR check. Jesus. Just give Argentina the trophy’.
Another posted: ‘If that was any player besides Messi it would’ve been red’.
A third replied: ‘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.’
‘Disgraceful. Messi should get a red but VAR doesn’t work anymore,’ another wrote.
Another angry fan responded: ‘That should be a red card. Messi stamped on his calf. What are we doing?’
‘I love Messi,’ another declared before adding ‘but he should have got a red there. Not even a yellow card is wild’.
Messi became the second player to score in five World Cups when he gave Argentina an early 1-0 lead over Algeria on Tuesday night.
Making his record sixth appearance in the tournament, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner found a gap in the Algerian defense and easily beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane for his 14th World Cup goal, sending a blue-and-white-clad crowd packed inside Arrowhead Stadium into delirium.
Messi became the second player to score in five World Cups when he gave Argentina the lead
Moments earlier, Messi had a goal disallowed for offside. He joins Portugal’s Ronaldo as the only players with goals in five World Cups. Ronaldo became the first in 2022 and is set to play in his sixth World Cup on Wednesday.
Messi, who turns 39 next week, had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury. But he had no problems in a friendly last week with Iceland, scoring a penalty while playing 20 minutes.
Messi´s appearance against Algeria was the 200th of his international career, which began in 2005 at the age of 18.
On Tuesday, thousands of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey trekked into the home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs on the outskirts of Kansas City.
