Lionel Messi starred in one of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 World Cup Final when he appealed to the Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić for the expulsion of Marc Cucurella for covering his mouth for just a second during their conversation, an incident that generated widespread criticism towards the Argentine star.
The incident occurred in the 94th minute of the final held this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just after Enzo Fernández was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul on Pau Cubarsí during stoppage time.
Messi based his complaint on the so-called "Prestianni Law," approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in April 2026, which establishes a direct red card for players who cover their mouths while verbally confronting an opponent, aiming to combat hidden racist insults.
However, neither the referee nor the VAR deemed Cucurella's gesture sufficient to warrant the penalty.
The rule emerged from the controversial incident between the Argentine Gianluca Prestianni and Vinícius Jr. in the Champions League, where the Benfica winger covered his mouth for several seconds with a clearly angry expression.
Cucurella's case was radically different: the Real Madrid defender made a fleeting gesture without his body language reflecting any serious confrontation.
Enzo Fernández, who had just been sent off, also joined Messi in the protest, but the VAR conducted a silent review and dismissed the request.
Spain conquered its second World Cup, 16 years after South Africa 2010, with a goal from Ferrán Torres in the 106th minute of extra time that broke the scoreless tie of regulation time.
Argentina played the entire extra time with 10 players and did not register a single shot on target, compared to Spain's 12 attempts on goal.
The referee Vinčić was also criticized for not showing a second yellow card to Leandro Paredes in the 90+2 and for disallowing a goal by Nico Williams due to a prior foul by Mikel Merino.
The behavior of the Argentine team was not limited to the incident between Messi and Cucurella. During the award ceremony, several players exhibited a violent reaction towards Spanish players: Paredes grabbed Eric García by the neck and Molina attacked Gavi, who fell to the ground. Paredes received a red card post-match that was documented in the official report.
The albiceleste team also turned their backs on the World Cup presentation to Spain, neither clapping nor watching the ceremony, while the Spanish team formed a guard of honor for them.
Messi finished the tournament heartbroken in what was his last appearance in a World Cup, at the age of 39, after scoring eight goals and providing four assists, becoming the second all-time leading scorer in World Cups with 21 goals.
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