Alexis Sanchez was hailed as one of the world's best players by Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi after the Arsenal forward shrugged off injury worries to score twice in the team's 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay.
Sanchez missed Chile's 0-0 draw against Colombia after suffering a thigh problem in training, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had warned Pizzi against making a "suicidal decision" by playing the forward against Uruguay. But Sanchez showed no signs of the injury as he put Chile ahead 2-1 with a strike from the edge of the area in the 60th minute and then doubled the lead in the 76th.
"Individuals speak for themselves," Pizzi said after the game. "Alexis is among the best players in the world. [But] I am more in favour of emphasising the strengths of the group. And it is what allowed us to turn the game."
Excelente triunfo equipo!!! Vamos Chile carajo!!!������������ vamos por más!!!������������ pic.twitter.com/lVQBmObHAR
- Arturo Vidal (@kingarturo23) November 16, 2016
Edinson Cavani had given Uruguay an early lead before Eduardo Vargas levelled for the hosts just before half-time. Sanchez was involved in that goal as well, leading a quick counterattack that was finished off by Vargas meeting a cross with a powerful header.
Sanchez's first goal was a sumptuous volley from the edge of the box directly from a throw-in, after he broke away from a defender with a clever feint. His second came after he ran onto a through-ball and held off two defenders before slotting home with a low shot.
He came off in the 84th minute to a big ovation.
The win puts Chile in fourth place in the South American qualifying standings, level on points with third-place Ecuador and still a point ahead of Argentina in fifth. The top four qualify automatically for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Sanchez has been in fine form for Arsenal this season with eight goals and five assists in all competitions, leading the attack from a central position up front.
He now faces a long flight back from South America before Saturday's early Premier League kick-off against Manchester United at Old Trafford.