Lionel Messi apologized to Aissa Mandi right after the incident, but could not put an end to the controversy surrounding a situation in which many argued he deserved to be sent off.
Even legends make mistakes at times. Lionel Messi admitted as much in a very direct manner when he proactively sought out defender Aissa Mandi to apologize following a controversial challenge during Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup 2026 group-stage victory over Algeria on June 17.
According to Mandi’s sharing on the Kampo podcast, Messi immediately realized he had committed a foul and asked about his opponent’s condition. The Algerian defender did not deny the Argentine captain’s goodwill, but also emphasized that he only truly understood the severity of the tackle after returning to the dressing room.
“I definitely felt the contact, but I didn’t realize its severity until I got into the dressing room, when I felt intense pain and was told: ‘That foul deserved a red card’ and then rewatched the play,” Mandi recalled.
The incident occurred in the 31st minute, with the studs of Messi’s boot making contact with Mandi’s calf from behind. Referee Szymon Marciniak only awarded a free kick, while VAR did not request a review. This decision prompted the Algerian Football Federation to submit a complaint to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
The situation also sparked a familiar debate in football: do superstars benefit from their reputation?
Commentator and former Venezuelan striker Alejandro Moreno believes the answer is yes. According to him, Messi should have been sent off, and the fact that VAR did not intervene only reinforces the view that marquee players often receive special favoritism.
The match ended in a 3-0 victory for Argentina, as Messi completed a hat-trick to equal Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. However, rather than being remembered solely for the historical milestone, that match remains tied to an unanswered question: if VAR had intervened, would Messi have still remained on the pitch to achieve his monumental feat?
