Former FIFA referee Igor Fedotov raised questions about a controversial moment in the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, asserting that the referees miscounted a Messi goal. The claim centers on the events surrounding Messi’s effort in the closing stages of regulation time and the role of video review in that decision.
The discussion exceeded the day after the match when reports suggested that Messi had the ball in the net while 13 Argentine players were on the pitch. Fedotov stressed that the presence of multiple substitutes on the field at the moment of Messi’s second goal represented an obvious violation, and he argued that this should have triggered a review or cancellation of the goal. He noted that the on-field referee did not make the final call, pointing to VAR and the reserve officials as the causal factors for the miscount. In Fedotov’s view, the correct procedure would have led to disallowing the goal, a determination that, in his assessment, could have changed the course of the match. He remarked that the error was not simply a matter of one official’s misjudgment but a breakdown in the process that governs goal verification during high-stakes games and the use of video assistance in those moments.
The 2022 World Cup final remained a dramatic contest through regulation, with both teams trading goals. The match concluded with a 2-2 scoreline after standard time and extra time, before Argentina prevailed in the ensuing penalty shootout with a 4-2 result. This sequence of events solidified Argentina’s status as one of football’s most storied nations to win a world title, adding a third triumph to their history, following earlier championships in 1978 and 1986. The final, therefore, did not simply determine a winner for that year; it also revived long-standing debates about officiating decisions, officiating technology, and how such moments should be managed when a nation’s hopes rest on a single match played on the world stage. The broader discussion highlighted how refereeing standards and video review protocols are scrutinized in moments of intense national pride and global attention.
Observers and analysts continue to review the incident in the context of football governance, refereeing training, and the evolving role of VAR in major tournaments. The dialogue encompasses questions about the timing of rulings, the interpretation of off-field instructions given to officials, and how substitutions on the field may impact the legality of goals under competition rules. The case underscores the ongoing debate about how best to balance the integrity of play with the practicalities of officiating at the highest level. In the wake of the match, commentators have urged clarity in the guidelines that govern goal validation and the responsibilities assigned to reserve officials when a potential violation arises in critical moments of a match.
For supporters of Argentina, the victory symbolized more than a single game’s outcome. It represented a reaffirmation of a national sporting legacy and a moment of unity after a hard-fought campaign on the world stage. For France, the defeat in the final did not erase a strong tournament run and a history of deep talent. The 2022 final, regardless of the officiating debates, stands as a landmark in international football, illustrating how peak performance, tactical discipline, and emotional intensity converge in a competition watched by millions around the globe. The event continues to fuel conversations about the role of technology in refereeing, the accountability of officials, and the ways in which major matches shape memories and national narratives.