Messi refereeing bias? Thomas Muller seems to think so

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FT Desk

Some of the discourse surrounding referees' supposed bias towards Lionel Messi gained traction over the course of the 2026 World Cup.

Conspiracy theorists were fuelled in the very first game when the Argentina superstar escaped a booking after his studs raked down the calf of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi.

Similar challenges that came after in the tournament resulted in red cards, such as Folarin Balogun's dismissal in the United States' fixture against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Argentina as a whole also benefited from a number of potentially controversial decisions, including a disallowed Egypt goal in the Round of 16 after VAR determined that Lisandro Martinez had been fouled in the build-up.

Messi supposedly holding favour with officials is an accusation that has followed him throughout most of his career, though it should be noted he was always given rougher treatment by opponents simply due to his talent on the pitch.

World Cup winner Thomas Muller definitely believes that there was some bias towards Messi from officials and recalled one particular incident in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and Germany in which the Bayern forward was given a booking for a handball while in the proximity of Messi.

🚨🗣 Thomas Müller speaks about referees favoring Messi:

"We were already leading against Argentina, and Lionel Messi was standing right next to me.

The ball bounced off the ground and then hit my hand, which was in this position.

The referee immediately showed me a yellow…

— 𝐓𝐌 (@TouchmineX) July 22, 2026

Müller said a video that has gone viral on social media: "We were already leading against Argentina, and Lionel Messi was standing right next to me. The ball bounced off the ground and then struck my hand, which was in this position (next to his body).

"The referee immediately showed me a yellow card, and I think the reason is simply that Messi was standing beside me."

"I felt that Messi looked at him as if to say, 'we're behind (2-0), please help us a little'".

Germany went on to win that match 4-0.

10 Reasons Why

Prior to the World Cup semi-final, over 13 million people signed an online petition requesting the removal of Argentina from the tournament, citing preferential treatment from the referees.

"Argentina Out is a fan-led campaign calling for Argentina to be removed from the 2026 World Cup," the site says.

"Sign the Kick Out Argentina petition to demand consistent rules, transparent officiating, and fair competition for every nation. Add your voice and help make the call to kick out Argentina impossible to ignore."

Kick Argentina Out listed 10 reasons why Argentina should be kicked out of the competition

They are:

- Lionel Messi's tackle against Aissa Mandi that went unpunished in Argentina vs Algeria.

- The disallowed goal for Egypt

- A supposed lack of respect of officials after footage emerged of Messi allegedly demanding respect of his own from a referee.

- The selection of Argentine referees for France's quarter-final game against Morocco, with Les Bleus viewed as a major tournament rival to Argentina.

- Supposed favouritism in the game against Switzerland.

- In particular, the decision to send Breel Embolo off via a second yellow card even though it was clear he deliberately dived.

- Discriminatory chants allegedly made by Enzo Fernandez four years ago.

- Alleged racist abuse towards YouTuber iShowSpeed.

- A handball from Messi in a World Cup game against the Netherlands four years ago.

- Alleged racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior in a Clasico Sudamericano match.

The same 'Kick Argentina Out' website asking who is the GOAT between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.

Ronaldo has 64% of the votes.