Has Messi ever gotten a red card? All the facts and details

Has Messi ever gotten a red card? All the facts and details

Kevin Omuya
February 16, 2024 at 6:40 AM
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Has Messi ever gotten a red card? Lionel Messi has been among the greatest and most famous soccer players ever. He has a reputation for being a patient and composed player, but few people know of his red card record. Throughout his career, Messi has received a couple of red cards with Argentina and with FC Barcelona.

Messi receiving red card in Argentina and Barcelona
L. Messi gets a red card in the Argentina vs Chile match in 2019 (left). Messi walks off the pitch after a red card against Athletic in 2021. Photo: Berengui, Alexandre Schneider (modified by author)
Source: Original

Messi has been through a lot of brutality on the field for a player who gets kicked a lot. Nonetheless, the three red cards he received became a global sensation. He won the first in August 2005, the second in June 2019, and the third in January 2021 while representing Barcelona in the Copa America. His first two appearances with Argentina were in 2005 and 2019, respectively.

Has Messi ever received a red card in a game?

The Argentine striker's career tally includes three sending-offs. The three red cards shown to Lionel Messi are as follows.

Name of player

Lionel Messi

Total number of red cards

3

Date of 1st red card

August 2005

Date of 2nd red card

June 2019

Date of 3rd red card

January 2021

Number of red cards on club level

1

Number of red cards from International duty

2

Has Messi gotten a red card before?

Throughout his career, Messi has received three red cards: two with Argentina and one with FC Barcelona. As a player who takes a lot of hits, Messi has seen his fair share of brutality on the field.

When did Messi get a red card?

Throughout his professional career, Lionel Messi has accrued three red cards. He won the first in August 2005, the second in June 2019, and the third in January 2021 while representing Barcelona in the Copa America. His first two appearances with Argentina were in 2005 and 2019, respectively.

Argentina vs Hungary

The world watched as Lionel witnessed a red card for the first time. Messi made his senior national team debut for Argentina on August 15, 2005, when he was 18. In a friendly match against Hungary, José Pékerman sent on the Barcelona rising star in the 63rd minute.

Lionel first touched the ball just two minutes after coming off the bench. The young forward threw an elbow and was promptly shown a straight red card after Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczák pulled his shirt. After the game, the Argentine squad reportedly discovered a young, emotional Messi sobbing in the locker room.

Argentina vs Chile

Messi was sent off for a second time while representing Argentina. It took place in Brazil during the 2019 Copa América, in the match for third place against Chile. The Argentine and Gary Medel of Chile got into a brawl in the 32nd minute of the first half.

In an attempt to dislodge Messi from the ball, Gary Medel chested him as he pursued it in the Chilean penalty area. The referee sent off Messi and Medel after they got into a fistfight and began chest-bumping. Third place in the Copa América would go to Argentina after a 2-1 win over Chile; Messi would finally get his first international championship with the senior Argentine national team in 2021 after leading Argentina to a final victory over Brazil.

The red card for Lionel did not affect the match's outcome because Argentina still won by a score of 2-1. Messi was fined $1,500 and suspended for one match for his disruptive behaviour, according to CONMEBOL, the South American soccer confederation, and Copa America tournament organizers.

Lionel continued to make highly contentious remarks following the match. His exact words were:

“There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil… I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn’t have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America. We could have gone further but we weren’t allowed into the final. Corruption, referees and all the rest stopped people from enjoying the football.”

Source – Eurosport

Messi was suspended from international football for three months by CONMEBOL and fined $50,000 for making corruption accusations. Consequently, he could not participate in upcoming friendly matches against Chile, Mexico, Germany, and Ecuador.

Has Messi ever got a red card in Barcelona?

Lionel's last red card came when he played for the infamous Ronald Koeman and was close to the end of his tenure at Barcelona. During the Spanish Supercup final match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, Messi received his first red card while playing for the Catalan team. Two goals scored by Antoine Griezmann put Barcelona ahead, but Athletic Bilbao responded with a significant goal from Asier Villalibre in the 90th minute to draw level.

This was the 753rd game of his professional career for Barcelona when he received his first red card. The Supercopa final match between Seville and Athletic Bilbao occurred on January 17, 2021, and the sending-off happened during that match. It was tough for the Catalan giants to swallow when Barcelona lost the game three goals to two in extra time.

Adding insult to injury, Lionel received his red card in the final seconds of extra time for a foul that warranted it on Asier Villalibre in the 121st minute. In a last-ditch effort to get his team back into the game, Messi dribbled in from the right side of the field, as is his wont.

Athletic player Villalibre drew near Messi's heels as the Barcelona player sent the ball wide left. The two players collided as they made their way towards the penalty area. After a second physical altercation, Messi appeared to lose it and slammed the Athletic Bilbao player to the ground with his hand.

It was yet another out-of-character behaviour from the Argentine, typically composed under pressure. Lionel missed a Copa del Rey match against Cornella and a La Liga match against Elche due to his two-game ban, which was imposed because it was a straight red card.

Final word

Has Messi ever gotten a red card? Lionel Messi has been sent off multiple times throughout his legendary football career. Against Porto in a friendly match in August 2005, he received his first red card as a Barcelona player. Another noteworthy incident occurred during the 2019 Copa America third-place playoff between Argentina and Chile.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.