LIONEL MESSI showed his brilliance once again with a sensational piece of ball control in Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay.
The Barcelona superstar proved age is just a number as the 33-year-old showed amazing flexibility to pluck the ball out of the sky.
Lionel Messi showed brilliant acrobatics to control the ballCredit: EPA
As he lurked on the edge of the box, a cross to him appeared overhit as the hosts attempted to mount an attack.
But Messi leaped off the ground, stretched out his left leg, and took the ball under his control.
It was a frustrating night for the star-studded side and for Messi in particular.
He thought he had bagged a winner for his country before it was controversially overturned through VAR.
Over 30 seconds after Angel Romero lost the ball inside his own half, Argentina went up the other end with Messi finishing off a brilliant passing move.
But the referee went to the VAR monitor and adjudged the Paraguay ace was fouled in the build-up.
According to Sport, fuming Messi went over to the referee and shouted: “You screwed us twice.”
The other incident was in relation to Paraguay’s opener when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Martinez Quarta fouled Miguel Almiron.
VAR ruled out Lionel Messi’s winning goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Messi was left furious with the officials after the contestCredit: Reuters
Romero buried the penalty to put the visitors ahead but they were pegged back four minutes before half-time when Nicolas Gonzalez headed home Giovani Lo Celso’s cross.
After the contest Nicolas Otamendi said of Argentina’s luck: “I think in the first half we were a bit uncomfortable with the pressure but when we managed to pass the ball about and find spaces we spent almost the entire second period in their half of the field.
“We got the goal but unfortunately it didn’t stand.”
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Watch Messi and his kids play football with HUGE pet dog Hulk as wife Antonela drinks Barcelona star’s special beer
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
