Caio Ribeiro claims Lionel Messi receives referee protection at World Cup
Ex-Brazilian striker Caio Ribeiro has alleged that Argentina's Lionel Messi is getting favorable treatment from officials during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ribeiro argued that Messi deserved a red card for a reckless challenge during the group stage match against Algeria. He further remarked that referees tend to be significantly more forgiving toward Messi compared to the rest of the players.