Lionel Messi faced criticism during Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after appealing for Marc Cucurella to be sent off over an alleged breach of tournament regulations.
According to the Evening Standard on Monday, July 20, 2026, the incident occurred shortly after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was dismissed for a second yellow card following a challenge on Pau Cubarsí. As players surrounded referee Slavko Vinčić, Cucurella briefly covered his mouth while speaking to Messi.
Under a new FIFA regulation introduced for the 2026 World Cup, covering the mouth while communicating can result in disciplinary action. Messi alerted the referee to the incident, but Vinčić declined to sanction the Spain defender.
Former England defender and ITV commentator Lee Dixon criticized both the rule and Messi’s reaction, saying, “The game has gone if you’re getting bookings and red cards for that, to get somebody sent off,” while suggesting players should not seek to exploit such situations.
The incident also sparked debate on social media. Spain went on to win the World Cup after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time.
