The sending-off of American forward Folarin Balogun in the United States’ win over Bosnia and Herzegovina sparked major controversy at the 2026 World Cup.
The attacker was shown a straight red card after stepping on an opponent, a decision that was upheld by VAR. However, the sanction quickly gave way to an intense debate on social media.
Thousands of fans began comparing the play to an incident involving Lionel Messi in an earlier match of the tournament. Messi’s foul was very similar, but the Argentine captain did not receive a yellow card nor was he called by VAR.
For some, both actions deserved the same punishment, while others argue that there were differences in the intensity and impact of the plays that justify different decisions.