10 July,2026 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Ashwin Ferro
Lionel Messi after Argentina’s last-16 clash against Egypt. Pic/AFP
World No. 2 Argentina faced little-known Cape Verde in the round of 32 after which they took on World No. 24 Egypt in the round of 16 and next meet World No. 14 Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
SMAR decision: Argentina has been deliberately handed an easy World Cup draw by FIFA.
Argentina's opening match against Algeria was all about Messi's hat-trick that saw him equal the record for the most World Cup goals.
SMAR decision: Messi should have got a red card for stabbing his studs into the right calf of Egypt's Aissa Mandi in the 32nd minute.
After Argentina beat a gritty Cape Verde 3-2 in a thriller, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told an Argentine TV channel that he suffered with them during the match, before clarifying that he spoke as a neutral.
SMAR decision: This proves FIFA President Gianni Infantino's love for Messi and bias towards Argentina.
Lionel Messi became the first player to miss two penalties in the same World Cup after failing to score from the spot in the round-of-16 match against Egypt, and before that, in the group stage match against Austria.
SMAR decision: Messi is frequently gifted penalties by referees to protect him from fouls as per instructions from FIFA.
FIFA has appointed five Argentine referees for the quarter-final between France and Morocco.
SMAR decision: This is because FIFA wants Morocco to win so that Argentina does not have to face the mighty France in the final.
