Thierry Henry Explains Why Messi Rightfully Avoided a Red Card

Debate continues to rage over whether Lionel Messi should have been shown a red card during yesterday's match between Argentina and Algeria. The "Albiceleste" captain, who netted a historic hat-trick, could have been sanctioned when the score was 1-0, specifically in the 31st minute, for kicking Aïssa Mandi in the back. Many believe the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner deserved a direct red card, but Thierry Henry holds a contrasting view. According to the French legend, a former Barcelona teammate of Messi's, the player's intention is crucial in such situations. In this instance, Henry argues, Messi's intention was not to foul his opponent but to play the ball.

"I see many people saying it should have been a red card, but for me, intention is very important when these situations are properly analyzed. When you review the situation, it's clear Messi is focused on the ball and trying to play it; he's not trying to hurt anyone. Yes, there's contact. Yes, it looks bad. But not all collisions warrant a red card."

"People are reacting because it's Messi. If it were another player, I don't think there would be so much controversy. For me, it was an incident, nothing more. Football is a contact sport, and sometimes incidents look much worse in real-time than they actually are," the former French international explained to Fox Sports.