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FC·June 23, 2026 01:58 PM ET

VAR rules out Uzbekistan goal vs Portugal, reviving Messi decision debate

Ganiev's stunner wiped out for a build-up foul.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 231 min read
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What happened: In Houston, Portugal moved in front through Cristiano Ronaldo and a Nuno Mendes finish before Azizjon Ganiev curled a spectacular effort beyond Diogo Costa. VAR intervened and chalked off the strike, ruling that Abbosbek Fayzullaev had fouled Joao Cancelo in the build-up. The match remains in play.

Why it matters: The call drew immediate comparison to Lionel Messi's opener in Argentina's 2-0 result over Austria, where Alexis Mac Allister's challenge on Xaver Schlager went unpunished. Former referee Mark Clattenburg argued the situations differ because the contact on Schlager came far upfield, while the foul preceding Ganiev's shot was on the edge of the box with no time to reset. For Ronaldo, who has extended his international scoring lead over Messi, the swing keeps Portugal's cushion intact.

What to watch: Ronaldo sits on the verge of a hat-trick as the second half plays out, with Uzbekistan still searching for a goal that stands.

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SoccerAnalysisPortugalUzbekistanArgentinaLionel MessiCristiano Ronaldo
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