In the third minute of second-half stoppage time, with the score at 0-0, midfielder Enzo Fernandez tripped Pau Cubarsi, receiving a second yellow card, resulting in a red card and his expulsion from the game. While the Spanish defender was on the ground, players from both sides exchanged words. Cucurella raised his hand to cover his mouth while speaking to Messi, then quickly lowered it.

Messi and Fernandez both raised their hands, reporting the incident to the referee and demanding VAR intervention. At the 2026 World Cup, two players had already been sent off directly for similar actions. The first was Miguel Almiron in the match between Paraguay and Turkey during the opening round of Group D.

In the Round of 16 match between Mexico and Ecuador, defender Piero Hincapie also received a direct red card for covering his mouth while arguing.

However, there have been many instances where referees and VAR did not penalize the mouth-covering gesture, such as Jude Bellingham in a group stage match against Ghana.

The new FIFA rules do not completely prohibit players from covering their mouths while speaking. The action that incurs a penalty is when a player intentionally conceals the content of a conversation during confrontations or arguments with an opponent.

Before the 2026 World Cup, FIFA Head of Refereeing Pierluigi Collina explained that players are still allowed to cover their mouths during normal conversations with teammates or opponents. Only when the action occurs in a tense situation, with signs of insult, threat, or discrimination, can the referee issue a red card after consulting VAR.

This was also why Messi reacted immediately. After Fernandez was sent off, Argentina was down to 10 men. If Cucurella had also been deemed in violation of the new rule, Spain would have lost a player, bringing the teams back to equal numbers.

Despite this, referee Slavko Vincic received no signal from VAR and allowed the game to continue. This indicated that the refereeing team judged Cucurella's action as not sufficient grounds to be considered a violation of the new rule.

The incident sparked debate on British television. Commentator Lee Dixon, a former Arsenal and England defender, suggested that Messi tried to exploit the new rule to disadvantage his opponent.

"If that's a yellow or a red card, then football is finished," Dixon said on ITV. "Don't act like a child just to try and get an opponent off the pitch. It's ridiculous."

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart also disagreed with Messi's reaction. "I didn't like that from Lionel Messi," Hart said on BBC. "It shows how dominant Spain are that even Messi has to resort to such tactics."

Meanwhile, former striker Wayne Rooney viewed it as a sign of desperation. "It's desperation," the Man Utd legend said on BBC. "Argentina has always played this way, but what people want to see is sportsmanship. It's a pity to see Messi do that."

On social media, the situation also generated mixed opinions. Many fans argued that Cucurella only touched his mouth for a moment. User @arden_bntz wrote on Instagram: "Cucurella only touched his lips for half a second," suggesting that Argentinian fans exaggerated the situation.

Other comments mocked Messi's reaction. @75_brian_ wrote: "FIFA, the baby is crying."

@johnstone014 commented simply: "Not today, Pepsi," referring to a mocking nickname for Messi.

Meanwhile, many shifted their attention to Argentina's playing style. @muscab1_ commented: "At this point, Argentina's plan is just to foul."

User @jar3dcr7 questioned why Leandro Paredes continued to foul after already receiving a yellow card.