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.
Footage of the first half incident showed him aiming a headbutt at Yanga-Mbiwa after the defender appeared to nod his head in the direction of the diminutive star.
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.
