The Final 8 of the FIFA World Cup has started, with Lionel Messi and Argentina taking on Cody Gakpo and the Netherlands. After a thrilling nail-biter, the game ended in a draw and it had to go to a penalty shootout, and Argentina won! However, not without controversy as Messi seems to have had another handball incident for Argentina.

In a callback to the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals against England where Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" incident happened and made a handball that resulted in Argentina advancing, Lionel Messi seems to have done his own "Hand of God" incident against the Netherlands.

The handball was not reviewed by the referees, and it has drawn an online debate about whether or not it was deliberate or an accident.

Lionel Messi Handball Draws Online Criticism

The handball incident, AKA "Hand of God 2.0" came about because Messi saw Denzel Dumfries bring down Argentina's Marcus Javier Acuna. He was apparently waving at the referee to call it when Nathan Ake kicked the ball to try and get it past a jumping Messi... who caught the ball with his hand. No yellow card was given to him for the handball.

Dutch fans were not happy with the handball incident, which was captured on video.

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However, it was not just the Dutch who were unhappy with the result, but fans all over the world. Many pointed out that Argentina received preferential treatment because it is Lionel Messi who did the handball. Others also pointed out that if this was Messi's rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who did this, he would have been called out.

Argentina Survived Late Netherlands Surge

While the handball sparked a "what could have been?" debate if Messi got punished with a red card, the game itself was a thrilling one. Argentina led early on with a big 2-0 lead. However, the Dutch were staging a comeback.

With only twenty minutes left in regulation time, the Orenje squad stepped up with two crucial goals to tie the game. The game went to extra time, but no team gained the advantage.

It eventually went to penalties, with Argentinian goalkeeper Emi Martinez getting one of the most important saves of his career. His brother, Lautaro Martinez, went in next to shoot his penalty kick, and it went in. Argentina fans at the Lusail Stadium went wild.

However, as Argentina celebrated, many fans were greeted with some shocking news from outside of Lusail Stadium, as their eternal rivals, Brazil, was upset by Croatia. This means that Argentina is the only team from the Americas left.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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