Messi, the accusations that cause a scandal

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By: Manu Tournoux

Messi, the accusations that cause a scandal

During Argentina’s last match, Lionel Messi had an altercation with Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria and believes he was spat on. The Torino player has denied it twice, his relatives being threatened on the networks.

Lionel Messi created a big controversy after Argentina’s 1-0 victory against Paraguay last Thursday, on behalf of the 3rd day of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. After the match, the captain of the Albiceleste pointed out with the finger Antonio Sanabria: “ The truth is that I didn’t see it. I was told in the locker room that someone had spat on me. I don’t even know who this guy is. I don’t want to give him importance either because he will talk everywhere and it will be worse. It’s better to stay there “.

By evoking the Paraguayan striker without mentioning him – and completely forgetting that the player in question grew up in Catalonia and was trained at Barça (without playing in the first team) – “La Pulga” above all found the right way to highlight Sanabria in embarrassment. Following the match, the Torino player directly denied having spit on the Argentine number 10. The footage shows Sanabria spitting towards Messi, who is facing away, but this is an optical effect as the players are already far apart.

The problem is that Sanabria and those close to him received insults and threats after the meeting. The 27-year-old striker spoke again to deplore the “ multiple threats for an event that never took place”, inviting Argentinian supporters and Messi fans to rewatch the images. He assures that he would not “ nothing like that towards anyone out of respect », so as not to set a bad example for his daughters.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.