Argentine Envoy: Messi Controversy Should Not Overshadow World Cup Spirit

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Argentine Ambassador to Indonesia, Gustavo Ricardo Coppa, said the controversy surrounding an incident involving Lionel Messi and Algerian player Aissa Mandi should not be exaggerated to the point of distracting attention from the 2026 World Cup itself. According to him, the incident, which has sparked debate on social media, is just one of many similar situations that have occurred in other matches during the tournament and have not always resulted in disciplinary action from referees.

"In my opinion, this is just one of many situations that have also occurred in numerous other matches. I would like to reiterate that social media has shown similar incidents involving several teams in the same tournament. In reality, the situation did not affect the match," Coppa said in an interview with Voice of Indonesia's Soccer Fiesta program on Friday.

He said differing opinions over a particular incident are a natural part of football, noting that the sport is always filled with emotions and passion that lead supporters and observers to hold varying views about a match.

Nevertheless, Coppa urged the public not to become overly absorbed in debates surrounding a single incident and instead focus on enjoying the competition.

"The most important thing is to enjoy the tournament and the football being played by the participating teams," he said.

Ahead of Argentina's next match against Austria, Coppa expressed optimism that the team would be able to maintain its positive momentum following its opening victory. However, he warned that no opponent could be underestimated at a tournament as prestigious as the World Cup.

According to him, Austria had demonstrated its quality with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, meaning Argentina must remain cautious and approach the game with humility.

"In modern football, there are no small teams anymore. Surprises can happen at any time," he said.

The incident involving Messi and Mandi during Argentina's match against Algeria had triggered widespread discussion on social media. During a challenge for the ball, Messi's foot struck the lower leg of Mandi, causing the Algerian player to fall.

Argentina began its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria in a Group J match at Arrowhead Stadium on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), with all three goals scored by Lionel Messi.