India, June 17 -- Football legend Lionel Messi delivered another memorable World Cup performance by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria, but his brilliant display was overshadowed by a controversial challenge that sparked intense debate among fans and pundits.

During the first half, Messi appeared to rake his studs down the calf of Algerian defender Aissa Mandi in an incident that many believed warranted a red card.

However, neither the referee nor VAR took any disciplinary action.

The decision quickly became a major talking point on social media, with some supporters arguing that other players would have been sent off for a similar tackle.

Critics questioned the consistency of officiating, while Messi's suppor...