2026 World Cup: Messi escapes FIFA ban after scoring hat-trick against Algeria

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, escaped a potential ban from FIFA, after he was not shown a red card for a dangerous foul during their 3-0 win over Algeria on Wednesday.

Messi grabbed the headlines with a hat-trick against the Desert Foxes.

But the 38-year-old was lucky not to be sent off in the first half, after he appeared to stamp on Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.

Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, instead awarded a free-kick to the Africans, and Messi did not even receive a yellow card.

VAR also opted not to intervene, seemingly deeming the challenge as careless, rather than reckless or the use of excessive force.

“I think it should have been a red card, in my opinion,” ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha told ESPN.

“I think it feels like the moment was missed because obviously the stills make it look quite bad, but when the player was on the floor, you could see Messi had a level of concern towards him because he knew he’d potentially done something there which could get him into trouble.”

A red card would have seen Messi sit out their next Group J fixture against Austria.