Lionel Messi found himself at the center of an unusual point during Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals after appearing to prompt referee Slavko Vinčić to punish Marc Cucurella for covering his mouth while speaking.The incident came moments after Argentina had been reduced to 10 men. Midfielder Enzo Fernández, who had already been booked for dissent before the match, received a second yellow card in stoppage time after a late challenge on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsí, leaving Lionel Scaloni’s side facing the final stages with a numerical disadvantage.
Messi calls for the exchange of Cucurella
As Argentina players surrounded Slovenian referee Vinčić to protest the dismissal, Spanish defender Cucurella briefly approached Messi during the stoppage. Television cameras showed the leftist speaking while partially covering his mouth with his hand before almost immediately going down.Messi was later seen gesticulating animatedly at the referee, appearing to indicate that Cucurella should also be punished under FIFA’s recently introduced regulation regarding players covering their mouths during matches.
The FIFA rule explained as no action taken
The law has become one of the most important changes at this World Cup. Ahead of the tournament, Paraguayan Miguel Almirón became the first player to be dismissed under the regulation, while Ecuadorian 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 case of covering the mouth an automatic mandate. FIFA guidelines allow referees to consider the nature of the interaction, with sanctions applied when the action is part of an inappropriate exchange or confrontation. In Cucurella’s case, Vinčić took no action after determining that the threshold for a dismissal had not been met.
Pundits criticize 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 dismissal.Speaking on ITV, former England defender Lee Dixon was particularly critical.“The game is over if you get bookings and red cards for that, to send someone off,” Dixon said during the live broadcast.“You shouldn’t be such a child to try to get sent to someone 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.“It is,” Rooney said. “Argentina plays like that, we know that’s what they do. The only thing you want is good sportsmanship. It was sad to see, Lionel Messi doing that.”Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart shared a similar view, adding: “Yeah, I don’t like Messi at all. He understands that Spain is on top in this final, Gabby, if even Lionel Messi comes back to it.”
Spain secure victory as Messi retires
Ultimately, Messi’s protests had no impact on the result. Spain continued to control proceedings before substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in extra time, securing a 1-0 win 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, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
For Messi, who was widely expected to make his final World Cup appearance at the age of 39, the evening ended in disappointment as Argentina relinquished their crown, while the debate surrounding the brief exchange with Cucurella became one of the final talking points of the tournament.