Thierry Henry Defends Messi After Controversial Incident Against Algeria

French football legend Thierry Henry believes Lionel Messi's challenge on Aïssa Mandi did not deserve a red card and says the controversy has grown because of the Argentine star's status.

Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup sparked significant debate following a controversial incident involving Lionel Messi and Algerian defender Aïssa Mandi.

The play occurred when Messi challenged Mandi from behind while attempting to win possession. Although the collision looked severe and led to strong protests from the Algerian side, the referee chose not to issue any card after assessing the situation.

One of the most notable voices supporting the decision has been Thierry Henry. The former French international and current television analyst believes that intent is a crucial factor when evaluating such incidents.

“I've seen many people say it should have been a red card, but for me intention is extremely important when analyzing these situations. Watching the replay, it's clear that Lionel Messi is focused on the ball and trying to make a football play, with no intention of hurting anyone,” Henry explained.

The 1998 World Cup winner acknowledged that the contact appeared heavy and looked worse in real time, but stressed that not every strong challenge automatically warrants a dismissal. He also pointed out that VAR exists precisely to review these situations and determine whether serious foul play has occurred.

Henry further argued that the reaction has been amplified because Messi is involved. “People react because it's Messi. If it had been another player, I don't think there would be this much controversy,” he said.

According to Henry, the incident was simply an unfortunate football challenge in a contact sport, lacking any malicious intent and ultimately judged correctly by the match officials.