Lionel Messi shows his true colours with response to opponent 'spitting' at him
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi had a blunt response to a player who allegedly “spat” at him while playing for Argentina.
Messi - who lifted the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022 - was a second-half substitute for Argentina in their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, replacing Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez in the 53rd minute at the Estadio Mas Monumental.
Argentina won the game 1-0 thanks to a third-minute goal from former City defender Nicolas Otamendi. However, the game has since been dominated by headlines that Messi was allegedly spat at by a Paraguay player.
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During the game, Messi could be seen having words with forward Antonio Sanabria. Replays of the altercation on social media have appeared to show Sanabria seeming to spit in the direction of Messi.
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The Inter Miami forward was asked about the altercation after the game. Messi played down the reports of any spitting, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner did have a blunt message for his opponent.
“The truth is that I didn't see it,” Messi is quoted telling reporters after the game, via Marca.
"They told me in the locker room that one of them had spit on me. The truth is, I don't even know who this guy is. I didn't see him. They only told me."
“I don't want to give importance either because he's going to come out, talk everywhere and it's worse.
“It's going to become known, so it's better to leave it there.”
Sanabria also gave an interview after the game against Argentina and was asked about the altercation with Messi. The striker, after watching a replay of the incident, denied that he had spat at Messi, and explained the situation from his point of view.
Lionel Messi was a second-half substitute for Argentina against Paraguay (Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)“I was looking at the image. It seems like I spit it out but, no, there's nothing to see. It was far away,” Sanabria told TyC Sports.
“Nothing happened with Messi. It seems like I spit out, but there's nothing to see, it was far way and I totally deny it.”
Argentina have a 100% record with three wins from their three games in South American qualifying and have one more World Cup qualifier during this international break, which comes against Peru on October 17.
After that Messi will have two more games remaining in Major League Soccer with Miami, but there is a short turnaround between the game against Peru and the home game against Charlotte FC on October 18. Although Miami's recent results mean they have no chance of making the MLS playoffs.
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