Credit: Twitter
During the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier between Argentina and Paraguay in the CONMEBOL draw, Paraguayan forward Antonio Sanabria appeared to spit at five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi on his back. On Thursday, October 12, the captain of Argentina spoke to reporters about the incident, taking a savage dig at the Paraguayan player.
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At the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, the reigning world champions Argentina registered an important win by 1-0 against Paraguay, thanks to Nicolas Otamendi scoring a volley in the third minute, after the corner was taken. This was the third straight victory for the Argentinian football team in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, after they got the better of Ecuador by 1-0 at home first and foremost, before brushing aside the challenge of Bolivia away by 3-0.
After the match was completed, Lionel Messi talked to the press about the incident and said, as per CBS Sports, “No, no. Truthfully, I didn't see it. They told me in the locker room that one of them spit at me. The truth is, I don't know who he is ... I don't know who this boy is.”
Notably, Lionel Messi didn’t start the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, coming off the bench to take part in the match in the 53rd minute. The moment with Antonio Sanabria happened in the latter stages of the encounter after the Paraguayan player got involved in the proceedings as a substitute from the 70th minute onwards.
