Lionel Messi found himself at the center of an unusual flashpoint during Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after appearing to urge referee Slavko Vinčić to penalize Marc Cucurella for covering his mouth while speaking.The incident happened moments after Argentina were reduced to 10 men. Midfielder Enzo Fernández, who had been booked for dissent earlier in the match, received a second yellow card in stoppage time in normal time after a late challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsí, leaving Lionel Scaloni’s side facing the closing stages with a numerical disadvantage.
Messi appealed the exchange of Cucurella
As Argentina players surrounded Slovenian referee Vinčić to protest the sending off, Spain defender Cucurella briefly approached Messi in stoppage time. Television cameras showed the left back speaking while partially covering his mouth with his hand before lowering it almost immediately.Messi was then seen gesturing at the referee, indicating that Cucurella should also be penalized under FIFA’s recently introduced regulation regarding players covering their mouths during confrontations.
The FIFA rule meant that no action was taken
The law has become one of the most scrutinized changes of this World Cup. Earlier in the tournament, Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón became the first player to be sent off under regulation, while Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié was also shown a red card after covering his mouth during an exchange with an opponent.However, the regulation does not make every instance of covering the mouth an automatic dispatch. FIFA guidelines allow referees to consider the nature of the interaction, with penalties applied if the action forms part of an inappropriate or confrontational exchange. In Cucurella’s case, Vinčić took no action after determining that the threshold for a dismissal was not met.
Experts criticized Messi’s reaction
However, the moment drew immediate criticism from many television pundits, who saw Messi’s appeal as an attempt to level the numbers after Argentina’s elimination.Speaking on ITV, former England defender Lee Dixon was more critical.“The game is over when you get bookings and red cards for that, to send someone off,” Dixon said during the live broadcast.“You don’t have to be such a child to try and kick someone out for that; it’s ridiculous.”BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan also described the incident as “desperation from Messi”, while former England captain Wayne Rooney echoed that assessment.“Yes,” said Rooney. “Argentina play like that, we know that’s what they do. The one thing you want is good sportsmanship. It’s sad to see, Lionel Messi doing that.”Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart shared a similar view, adding: “Yeah, I never enjoyed that from Messi. He knows what Spain is up to in this final, Gabby, if even Lionel Messi turns that around.
Spain secure victory as Messi bows out
In the end, Messi’s protests had no effect on the outcome. Spain continued to control proceedings before substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in added time, securing a 1-0 victory and Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title.
Spain’s Marc Cucurella (24) celebrates in front of Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) after the World Cup final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, NJ, near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
For Messi, widely expected to make his final World Cup appearance at the age of 39, the night ended in disappointment as Argentina surrendered their crown, while the debate surrounding Cucurella’s short exchange became one of the final talking points of the tournament.