Argentina’s visit to Paraguay had it all—goals, scoring opportunities, and controversy. Cameras captured Lionel Messi visibly frustrated with Brazilian referee Anderson Daronco and Lionel Scaloni calling him a "shameless" official.

How Did It Come to This?

At the 32nd minute, Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete received his first yellow card. Just five minutes later, during a Messi counterattack, Alderete brought the Argentine No. 10 down to the ground.

What seemed like a clear yellow card to many wasn’t called by Daronco, sparking outrage on the sidelines from Scaloni, who was heard shouting and calling the referee a “shameless” official, as reported by various Argentine outlets.

The decision proved pivotal, as Alderete went on to score the game-winning goal in the 47th minute.

Messi’s Outburst

At the end of the first half, Messi confronted the referee to express his frustration over the missed call, which spared Alderete from an early red card.

In a tense exchange, Messi pointed his finger directly at Daronco, a moment captured on camera and shared widely. It joins a growing list of incidents where the Argentine star has not held back his emotions.