Lionel Messi Apologised After Reckless Tackle, Says Algeria's Mandi

Lionel Messi apologized to Algeria defender Aissa Mandi after a dangerous challenge during Argentina’s 3-0 win over North Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mandi said. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute and, about 14 minutes later, escaped what could have been a red card after a studs-up tackle that caught Mandi on the calf. The Polish referee Szymon Marciniak awarded only a free kick, and VAR did not review the incident. The Algerian Football Federation later filed a formal complaint with FIFA. Despite the controversy, Messi remained on the pitch and completed a second-half hat trick, equaling Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals and becoming the oldest player to score three in a World Cup match. Mandi said Messi acknowledged the mistake and asked about his condition, and that he only realized the full severity after the match.