Lionel Messi react viciously after ex-Barcelona player 'spits' at him during Argentina’s game against Paraguay

In the early hours of Friday morning, Argentina defeated their rivals from South America 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

During the game, Paraguay star Antonio Sanabria was reportedly said to have spit on the Argentine star Lionel Messi.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner reacted to the incident and gave the Paraguay forward a stern response.

Former Barcelona teammate Antonio Sanabria was forced to deny spitting on the superstar, but Lionel Messi responded angrily.

According to reports from the Daily Star, Messi and Sanabria got into a fight, and then the Paraguay international directed his spit towards the Argentine.

The 27-year-old denied that the forward was the target of the spat, but not before Inter Miami's player had his say following the game.

According to TyC Sports, Messi hit back, saying, "My teammates told me about it in the locker room. It is better to leave the issue alone.

 "I don't know who this guy is and I don't want to give him importance either, because if he gets that he's going to go out and talk everywhere and he becomes known."

Sanabria responded saying that the camera perspective made it appear as though he had spit directly at Messi rather than merely in his near vicinity.

Meanwhile, Messi, who decided against retiring in Qatar, continues to play at a high level, hitting the post twice as they won 1-0.

Despite the fact that Messi had recently been sidelined for his club, Lionel Scaloni decided to risk starting him off the bench.