“I feel compelled to come out and deny what happened” – Antonio Sanabria says he received ‘threats’ after allegedly spitting on Lionel Messi
In the aftermath of Argentina's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, Antonio Sanabria and Lionel Messi made the headlines as a disturbing incident emerged. The incident in question was an alleged act of spitting by Sanabria directed at the Argentine football legend.
The Paraguayan striker has had to deal with the backlash that followed, including a barrage of threats and insults that targeted him and his family. However, he has vehemently denied the accusations. Sanabria took to his Instagram account to address the issue, seeking to set the record straight and protect his reputation.
In his Instagram post, the former Barcelona youth player declared his innocence, claiming that he did not spit on Lionel Messi.
Sanabria stated (via Fichajes):
"I feel compelled to come out and deny what happened last night... For the simple fact of seeing my family affected and because of multiple threats for an event that never happened. I would never do anything like that to any person. What example would I set for my daughters if I did such an act? I recommend you to see all the images."
Sanabria spent four years of his youth career at Barcelona from 2009 to 2013. During that time, he shared the same training ground as Lionel Messi. However, his time at the club was relatively brief in terms of senior appearances, as he only managed 10 outings for Barcelona B, scoring three goals.
Following his time in Catalonia, he embarked on a journey through various clubs, showcasing his talents in Italy with Sassuolo, Roma, and Genoa. He also played in Spain with Sporting Gijon and Real Betis. Currently, he plies his trade with Torino, where he enjoyed a productive season in Serie A, netting 12 goals last season.
Lionel Messi returned to the pitch for Argentina against Paraguay following an injury spell
The game against Paraguay was of utmost significance for the World champions, with Argentina seeking to assert their dominance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Nicolas Otamendi, without wasting any time, found the back of the net just three minutes into the game, scoring the only goal of the match.
Lionel Messi, who had recently been sidelined due to a nagging muscle injury that kept him out of four Inter Miami matches, made a highly anticipated return to the pitch. His presence during the Argentina-Paraguay clash helped them to the win after he was introduced in the 53rd minute. Although he was unable to score, the Argentine legend hit the bar twice to showcase his return to the Estadio Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Argentina is now at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers Table with a perfect record of three wins in three games.