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Paraguay's Antonio Sanabria has denied spitting on Lionel Messi during his team's 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifier loss against Argentina on 13 October.
Nicolas Otamendi produced a volleyed finish from a corner kick that any striker would be proud of. The third-minute strike was enough to separate the two sides and hand Argentina their third consecutive win in the competition.
Messi was left out of the starting XI after speculation surrounding his fitness. But he made his return on the pitch in the 53rd minute and played for the remainder of the game to help his team over the line.
A moment of controversy arose in the 84th minute when cameras caught Sanabria, who came on in the 70th minute, allegedly spitting in Messi's direction. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was even seen talking to the Torino striker in the aftermath of the incident.
Sanabria has, however, denied claims that he spit at the 36-year-old. After the game, he said, via AS:
"No [there was no incident], just things that happen in a game."
In comments given to TyC Sports (h/t @AlbicelesteTalk on X) in the same interview, he continued:
"I saw the footage, it seems like I'm spitting on it [at Lionel Messi] but no, no, not at all, he’s far away. The footage is seen from the behind and, it seems like I'm spitting on it, but no, nothing."
Apart from that, Messi had a rather uneventful game against La Albirroja. Argentina sit top of the qualifiers table with nine points from three games — two points ahead of second-placed Brazil and eight ahead of Paraguay.
What did Lionel Messi say about spitting incident with Antonio Sanabria after Argentina beat Paraguay?
Lionel Messi was asked to address his views on Antonio Sanabria allegedly spitting on him in Argentina's win against Paraguay.
The former Barcelona superstar seemingly took a shot at the Paraguayan striker, saying that he didn't know who he was and didn't want to give him undue fame. He said (h/t @BarcaUniversal on X):
"Sanabria? They told me in the locker room that someone spat on me. The truth is that I don't even know who that boy is. I prefer not to talk, otherwise he's going to go out and talk everywhere and will be known."
It is worth mentioning that Sanabria and Messi have met each other five more times in the past, with two of those encounters being on the international stage. Messi has come on top by a landslide, registering five goals and two assists in those six encounters.
Sanabria, meanwhile, has never ended up on the winning side against La Pulga, losing four times and scoring once in the process.
