Lionel Messi saluted a “beautiful moment” after becoming the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer — but some have suggested he was lucky to stay on the pitch over an ugly tackle.
The 38-year-old Argentina captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the South Americans’ 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium on Wednesday (AEST).
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Messi ‘makes Football look EASY!’ | 00:28
However there was a moment of controversy early in the second half as Messi made a clumsy challenge on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi.
Mandi was awarded a free kick and VAR deemed deemed not further punishment was needed, but some commentators decalred post-match Messi was extremely lucky not to have been sent off.
“It probably should have been a red card in,” ESPN and former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha said.
“And I think the referee’s probably missed it and I understand why the referee’s missed it but for the video system referees to look at that and say ‘nah that’s all fine there’s nothing more to it’, I personally think that’s worthy of a red card.”
Onuoha’s ESPN colleague Ale Moreno was even stronger.
“It’s 100 per cent a red card for Lionel Messi, should have been,” he added.
Many other social media users agreed, sharing images and video of the incident and claiming other players would have not got away with it.
Messi’s hat-trick — his first ever in the World Cup — vaulted him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in thetournament’s history with 16 goals.
“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” Inter Miamistar Messi said afterwards. “I’m happy.” Messi’s razor-sharp eye for goal augurs well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-backWorld Cup titles.
“The squad, it’s a very united, very strong group,” Messi said. “I feel good; we were lucky enough to win a tough match. It’s important to start off with a win in the first game.
“I’m grateful to the fans, because once again they’ve shown that Argentina is crazy about this — we packed the stadium again.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni meanwhile said he no longer has “the words to describe Messi.” “For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” Scaloni saidof Messi’s performance.
Scaloni is now targeting Argentina’s second Group J game against Austria on Monday as the South Americans look to lock uptheir place in the knockout rounds.
“We’re going to take it one game at a time. The team is happy; we gave playing time to a lot of players,” Scaloni said.
“Hopefully we can win the next one so everyone can be in the third group stage match.”