Lionel Messi branded a 'baby' after asking for Marc Cucurella to be sent off in World Cup final: 'Game's gone'

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20 July 2026

Argentina talisman was leaving nothing to chance as second world title slipped away

Lionel Messi

has been branded a ‘baby’ after trying to have

Marc Cucurella

sent off during the

World Cup

final.

Argentina

went a man down in the second half as Enzo Fernandez was dismissed,

shown a second yellow card for clattering Pau Cubarsi

, and Messi was quick to attempt to level the playing field.

Cucurella approached Messi to discuss the incident as players remonstrated with referee

Slavko Vincic

, when the Real Madrid full-back appeared to momentarily cover his mouth.

Under new

FIFA

guidelines for this tournament, covering one’s mouth can be a red-card offence. Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player to fall foul of the new rules, earning his marching orders in the group stage.

Petulant:

asks Slavko Vincic to dismiss Marc Cucurella

AFP/Getty

Upon seeing Cucurella put his hand to his mouth, Messi immediately flagged the incident to Vincic, who appeared broadly unsympathetic.

And ITV commentator Lee Dixon took a dim view of what he described as a ‘ridiculous’ situation.

“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.”

Supporters were also quick to satirise Messi’s antics, with one writing on X: “Like a child running to tell teacher. Pathetic behaviour from the so-called superstar.”

Another branded it the “most pathetic moment” of the final. There was considerable competition for that honour, as Leandro Paredes was sent off after the final whistle for an incident in which he appeared to throw

Spain

midfielder Gavi to the ground.

Messi’s attempt to have Cucurella ejected was, of course, fruitless, and

went on to win the final 1-0 after Ferran Torres’ late winner.

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