7 facts you did not know about Alexis Sanchez

#3 His Childhood Idol Was Marcelo Salas

Marcelo Salas was Sanchez's idol.

Marcelo Salas is probably best remembered in England for his well-taken goal in Chile’s friendly victory over England at Wembley in the build up to the 1998 World Cup, but his long career on both sides of the Atlantic began and ended at Universidad de Chile--the club that Sanchez supported when he was growing up.

The buccaneering striker was hence an obvious idol for the young Sanchez.

Later, he had an opportunity that few get. In September 2007, he got to play alongside his idol, as he and Salas started together up front for the Chile national team in a 2-0 friendly win over Austria in Vienna.