Algeria have lodged an official complaint with FIFA following a controversial incident involving Lionel Messi during their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Argentina.
The Algerian Football Federation believes its team was subjected to unfair officiating during the Group J encounter, with particular concern over a challenge by Messi on defender Aissa Mandi in the 30th minute.
According to reports, Messi appeared to catch Mandi on the calf with a studs-up tackle from behind. However, the referee took no disciplinary action, and the incident was not reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), much to the frustration of the Algerian camp.
A source within the federation said the complaint centres on what Algeria considers a series of refereeing decisions that influenced the outcome of the match. Officials are especially disappointed that VAR did not intervene despite what they regard as a clear and dangerous challenge.
The controversy came during a memorable night for Messi, who scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina to victory. The three goals saw the Argentine captain equal former Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s record as the joint-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 16 goals.
Despite the setback, Algeria remain focused on their qualification hopes. The Desert Foxes will face Jordan on Monday before taking on Austria in their final Group J fixture on June 27.
Algeria are aiming to reach the World Cup knockout stages for only the second time in their history. Their best performance at the tournament came in 2014, when they advanced to the Round of 16 before being eliminated by eventual champions Germany after extra time.
