The final minutes of the 2026 World Cup between Argentina and Spain witnessed a controversial incident, as Argentine captain Lionel Messi attempted to draw the attention of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić to the actions of Spanish defender Marc Cucurella.
The incident occurred after Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a straight red card following a strong tackle on Spanish player Pau Torres during stoppage time.
The video replay showed Messi pointing to the referee, indicating that Cucurella was speaking with his hand near his mouth while addressing the Argentine captain, in an attempt to urge him to take disciplinary action against the Spanish player.
This incident coincided with FIFA's implementation of new regulations during the 2026 World Cup aimed at combating racism, which prohibit players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents or referees, in order to prevent the concealment of any phrases that may include insults.
Despite Messi's protests, the referee made no decision against Cucurella, allowing the match to continue normally before extending into extra time.
