WHAT A MESS

LIONEL MESSI’S record-breaking World Cup should NOT have stood, according to a BBC pundit.

Messi netted his 17th goal of the finals in his 28th game against Austria as he swept the ball home with his left foot after a low cross into the penalty area.

However, according to Fox pundit and former Manchester United star Peter Schmeichel, the goal should NOT have been allowed to stand.

The Danish icon, who made 129 appearances for his country, pointed out that referee Amin Mohamed Omar had missed a foul off the ball in the build-up to the goal by Liverpool‘s Alexis Mac Allister on RB Leipzig‘s Xaver Schlager.

Speaking on Fox Sports at half-time, the 62-year-old said: “I don’t think that goal should have stood.

“Think about how they get the penalty, this is a kick from behind through Xaver Schlager.

“This is a free-kick, Mac Allister has kicked the player down. That should have been a free-kick.

“Var should have taken that back. That is a clear and obvious mistake by the referee.”

Fuming Schmeichel added: “And for that I feel a little bit frustrated.”

Fans online were equally as angry at the decision, with one saying: “Fifa is corrupt. Tell me why there is not a single video of the foul on that Austrian player leading to that Messi Goal? No var nothing. Scam.”

A second said: “Is FIFA really trying to give Argentina favours? That was a bad foul on an Austrian player before it led to Argentina scoring. Last game Messi did a bad foul as well which should have been a red card. What’s going on here?”

A third added: “So there was a clear foul committed by Argentina before the Messi goal?”

Another said: “CLEAR FOUL Leading up to that Messi goal, it’s actually disgusting at this point.”

Regardless of the former goalkeeper’s and fan grievances, the goal counted and Messi’s name is now top of the mountain of World Cup goalscorers.

And he extended his record with a second goal in injury time to move on to 18 goals overall and five at this World Cup already. – Sun