The Paraguayan striker equalized for his national team against Argentina with a spectacular bicycle kick, reminding many of his controversial meeting with Messi in October 2023.
Emiliano Martínez’s return to Argentina’s goal did not go as he hoped. Just 18 minutes after kick-off in the match against Paraguay, Antonio Sanabria – already known for his famous incident with Lionel Messi last year – produced a superb return which allowed the Albirroja to come back to score of this World Cup qualifying match.
Shortly after Lautaro Martínez gave the Albiceleste the lead, the Paraguayan striker launched into an acrobatic maneuver in front of a static defense, unable to prevent his powerful shot.
For many fans, the name Antonio Sanabria resonates deeply. Many supporters recalled how the Torino striker was accused of spitting on Lionel Messi during their meeting in mid-October 2022 at the Monumental. Footage of the incident circulated, leading many to believe he spat in Messi’s direction.
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“I saw the footage. It looks like I spit, but that’s not true. I was far away. Nothing happened with Messi. It looks like I spit, but it didn’t. “That’s not the case; I was far away,” Sanabria told TyC Sports after the match. Meanwhile, Messi, although he tried to downplay the situation, expressed his discomfort: “I don’t know who this kid is, and I don’t want to give importance to that, otherwise he will become known. Better It’s worth leaving it like that. My teammates talked about it in the locker room.”
Ironically, after this incident, photos of Sanabria alongside Lionel Messi during their youth years at Barcelona went viral. The Paraguayan played in the Catalan club’s youth teams in 2009, during which time he crossed paths with Messi and couldn’t resist asking him for a photo.
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Sanabria’s early career included a stint with FC Barcelona B, where he met Messi, before joining AS Roma in 2014. Since then, he has carved out a place for himself in Italian football with stints in clubs such as Sassuolo and, currently, Torino.
To find the last return kick scored against the Argentine national team, we have to go back to 1985, when Careca opened the scoring in a friendly against Brazil with this technical gesture.
This match would end 2-1, with Jorge Burruchaga scoring a consolation goal for the team coached by Carlos Bilardo and Alemao scoring the winner for the Canarinha.
