Algeria files a complaint to FIFA after Messi's red card was not awarded

During the last match, Lionel Messi once again demonstrated his enduring skills by scoring a hat-trick. However, his performance was not without controversy. In the 31st minute of the match, Messi made a dangerous foul, driving the studs into the calf of Algerian defender Aissa Mandi. Referee Szymon Marciniak did not react to this incident, and the VAR system also did not decide to intervene.  The Argentine, who already has one goal to his name, finished the match with three goals, allowing him to equal Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. Despite this, the failure to award a red card for his offense caused an uproar, leading Algeria to lodge an official complaint with FIFA. According to news agencies Reuters and AFP, the complaint mainly concerns a foul by Messi, which many believed deserved a red card. Additionally, two elbow situations were mentioned, referring to the alleged elbow strike by Alexis MacAllister. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Brazil Awaits Group F Opponent in World Cup Knockouts](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/brazil-awaits-group-f-opponent-in-world-cup-knockouts) 2. [Turkey Edges USA 3-2 in World Cup 2026 Thriller](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/turkey-edges-usa-3-2-in-world-cup-2026-thriller)