Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute and went on to complete a hat-trick in the win, but remained on the pitch after an ugly foul around the half hour mark. The Inter Miami forward went to tackle Aïssa Mandi and caught the Algerian defender on the back of the calf with his studs. Referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a foul but did not issue further punishment, and VAR did not recommend an on field review.
Reports indicate the FAF has raised concerns with FIFA about Marciniak's performance, including accusations that he failed to correctly punish two additional challenges during the match. Slow motion footage of the Mandi incident showed Messi's sole making contact with the back of the calf and Achilles area, a challenge many observers would view as worthy of a red card.
Officials appear to have weighed the lack of clear intent or aggression in Messi's tackle, and the limited reaction from Algerian players at the time, against the threshold for serious foul play. Marciniak also did not show a yellow card on the play, a decision VAR could not overturn under the rules.
The leniency allowed Messi to finish a hat-trick that tied him with Miroslav Klose as the all time leading scorer in World Cup history. With no suspension attached, he is positioned to break the record outright when Argentina faces Austria on June 22.
