Lionel Messi found himself at the heart of a 2026 World Cup controversy following Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria, and the veteran forward could now be facing fresh scrutiny.
Many observers felt the Argentina captain was fortunate to avoid a straight red card after a dangerous challenge on Algerian defender Aissa Mandi.
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The incident sparked widespread debate, with some supporters arguing that Messi receives favourable treatment from referees and football authorities.
That debate has since shifted to another moment involving the Argentine legend. Although he scored a hat-trick for the reigning world champions in their opening fixture, some fans have questioned whether Messi should also have been dismissed for covering his mouth.
The discussion stems from Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron becoming the first player at the tournament to receive a red card for covering his mouth during his nation’s 1-0 victory over Turkey.
Lionel Messi talking with his mouth covered.
But according to new FIFA rules, isn't it a red card offence? pic.twitter.com/tRwWdOswV8
— The Touchmine | (@TouchmineX) June 20, 2026
The recently introduced ‘Prestianni Law’ was enforced for the first time when the former Newcastle United player covered his mouth while involved in a dispute with an opposing player.
The regulation was approved by IFAB in an effort to prevent offensive remarks from being concealed, following the controversy involving Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
After VAR determined that Almiron had violated the new rule, the match official was instructed to review the incident on the monitor before issuing a red card.
Soon afterwards, an image began circulating on social media showing Messi speaking with his hand covering his mouth during Argentina’s opening match.
However, the regulation specifically states that a player can be sent off for concealing their mouth during a confrontation. Messi was merely communicating with teammates after scoring his second goal in the 60th minute, meaning his actions did not breach the law.
Henry Winter noted on X that the key word in the regulation is ‘confrontational’. He also explained that every player had been briefed on the rule before the tournament began.
“Players can cover mouth if communicating with own team-mates, tactical etc. Can’t plead ignorance; all players were informed pre-tournament.”
Following the online backlash surrounding Almiron’s dismissal, FIFA released a statement clarifying the decision. The governing body confirmed that the sanction was issued under one of the new regulations introduced for the tournament.
The statement read: “Following a VAR review in the FIFA World Cup match between Türkiye and Paraguay, Miguel Almiron was shown a red card for covering his mouth.
“Following a special meeting of The IFAB held in April, a number of amendments were introduced to be implemented at the FIFA World Cup 2026. This included a red card for any player in the tournament seen covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent.”
