Barcelona star Lionel Messi narrowly escaped being sent-off after headbutting Roma’s Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa during their 3-0 victory in the traditional Gamper Trophy pre-season match at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Messi is known for rarely losing his cool despite regularly being the target of hard-tackling defenders. But the Argentine reacted angrily during a confrontation with the French international.
A furious Messi responded by butting the defender and grabbing him by the throat.
Spanish referee Javier Estrada Fernandez could easily have sent both players off but instead showed the pair yellow cards.
The Argentine has never been sent off for Barcelona and has only ever been red-carded once -- on his international debut as a teenager in 2005.
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