Alexis Sanchez's face goes viral as he scores ice-cold Panenka for Marseille | OneFootball

Alexis Sanchez loves a Panenka.

Just ask Lionel Messi, because it was the 2015 Copa America final that saw Sanchez at his coolest from the penalty spot as he dinked home the cheekiest of efforts to ensure that Chile defeated Argentina in a dramatic shootout.

However, Arsenal fans know very well that Sanchez’s exploits weren’t a one-off as he proceeded to convert a stoppage-time penalty against Burnley in 2017 with the exact same technique.

It’s one thing to chip a penalty down the middle when there’s absolutely no pressure on, but it’s another thing to do so when three points and international trophies are on the line.

These days, there’s not quite so much jeopardy on Sanchez’s big moments, but the very same coolness and cheekiness continues to course through his game.

In fact, while it might not have been the Copa America final or the last minute of a Premier League tie, fans did get to see the classic Sanchez Panenka back in action for 2023 last week.

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When did Sanchez score his latest Panenka?

That’s because Sanchez couldn’t resist putting on a show when Marseille won a penalty in first-half stoppage time during their Coupe de France clash with Hyères FC of the French fourth tier.

In a 2-0 win that will be best remembered for Eric Bailly’s horrendous red card, Sanchez proved that ice was running through his veins when he fired Marseille into the lead from the penalty spot.

Well, less ‘fired’ and more ‘dinked’ with the 34-year-old converting one of the iciest Panenka penalties that we’ve seen in a while.

It wasn’t just a Panenka, but rather a Panenka of such impudence and nonchalance that it hit the back of the net barely six inches off the ground, just enough to float cutely over the goal line.

Video: Sanchez’s freezing cold Panenka for Marseille

Why did Sanchez’s face go viral?

And the poise, the concentration on Sanchez’s face as he converted said masterpiece even went viral, too, courtesy of a fantastic tweet from football writer and broadcaster Tom Williams.

Williams has amassed more than 1,500 retweets and 19,000 ‘likes’ at the time of writing for a brilliantly witty description of Sanchez looking completely in the zone as he executes his chip.

The viral tweet read: “Just come across this photo of Alexis Sanchez scoring a Panenka for Marseille yesterday and this might be the best Panenka face I’ve ever seen.

“The concentration, the moustache, the faint air of disdain. Looks like he’s playing quoits in an English country garden c. 1921.”

An icy cold penalty and a burning hot tweet, you love to see it.

And that’s before we mention the moustache.

So although the days of Sanchez tearing things up in the early and mid-2010s might now have passed, make no mistake that he’s never far away from producing a moment of pure majesty still.

And when he’s doing so while rocking some beautiful facial hair and looking deep into the soul of the ‘keeper, you’ve just got to applaud, because 2023 Alexis is a vibe that we’re seriously here for.