Lionel Messi has been getting roasted online after he tried to get Marc Cucurella sent off during the World Cup final. And not just by fans. ITV analyst Lee Dixon called him out in real time, saying the sport has gone soft if players are getting red cards for covering their mouths.
It happened in the second half. Argentina already had Enzo Fernandez sent off after a second yellow card for a rough challenge on Pau Cubarsi. Messi figured he could even things up. Cucurella walked over to talk to the referee, and at one point he put his hand over his mouth. That’s a red-card offense under new FIFA rules this tournament. Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron already got ejected for the same thing in the group stage.
So Messi immediately pointed it out to the referee Slavko Vincic. The ref basically ignored him. You could see it on the broadcast — Messi gesturing, making his case, and the official just not buying it.
Dixon called the whole thing ridiculous. “The game has gone if you’re getting bookings and red cards for that, to get somebody sent off,” he said. “You shouldn’t be such a baby to try and get someone sent off for that, it’s ridiculous.”
Fans piled on too. One X user wrote: “Like a child running to tell teacher. Pathetic behavior from the so-called superstar.” Another called it the “most pathetic moment” of the final. And honestly there was some competition for that honor. Leandro Paredes got sent off after the final whistle for throwing Spain midfielder Gavi to the ground.
Messi’s attempt didn’t work anyway. Spain won the final 1-0 on a late goal from Ferran Torres. So Argentina lost the title and got savaged for Messi’s antics on top of it.
It’s the kind of moment that sticks with a guy’s legacy. Messi is arguably the greatest player ever. But even the greats do stuff that makes people roll their eyes. This one’s going to show up on highlight reels for years — just not the way he’d want.
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