Messi raises his voice against Portuguese referee: the rare anger of the Argentine captain analyzed

During the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal in Kansas City, Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time. In the first half, Lionel Messi lost his temper with Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro, accusing him of disrespect after being asked to adjust his position for a free kick. No disciplinary action was taken. Messi had a similar confrontation with a referee in the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands. The match also featured the red card of Swiss player Breel Embolo following a VAR review.