Awkward moment: Striker left embarrassed after failed kiss attempt with partner
Luciano Rodriguez was presented at Cruzeiro alongside his partner Anto Chiavaglia, known as the "Uruguayan Kim Kardashian". When he leaned in for a kiss on stage, she turned away, sparking viral speculation that she later attributed to being overwhelmed by nerves.
Luciano Rodriguez, a striker for the Uruguay national team, recently moved on loan to the Brazilian club Cruzeiro, but it was a single moment from his presentation ceremony that went viral on social media. While standing next to his partner, Anto Chiavaglia, Rodriguez leaned in to kiss her in front of the cameras, but she turned away and moved back, leaving him standing alone in embarrassment.
The 23-year-old striker's smile disappeared immediately, and after a few seconds, he tried to smooth over the awkward moment by running his hand through his hair. One of the videos from the event has already garnered more than 4.6 million views, and following the reactions, Chiavaglia, a model with over 170,000 Instagram followers who was previously dubbed the "Uruguayan Kim Kardashian", was forced to explain that there was no crisis in their relationship.
"When I entered, I greeted him, and when I left, I was very nervous. The moment overwhelmed me, and I preferred to give him space. There was no disrespect or anything like what they are trying to portray," she said.
Rodriguez arrived at Cruzeiro on loan after playing last season for the Saudi club Al-Naoum, where he scored six goals in 30 matches. According to reports, the deal includes a purchase option of approximately 17 million euros.
The striker has five appearances for the Uruguay national team, and he also previously won the U-20 World Cup and the Uruguayan championship with Liverpool Montevideo in 2023. Now he will try to leave behind the embarrassing moment from the presentation and focus on the new chapter of his career in Brazil.
Anto Chiavaglia — or by her full name Antonella Chiavaglia — is a Uruguayan model and influencer who became a well-known figure on social media at a young age. In 2017, she won the title of "Miss Spring" in Punta del Este, and later received the nickname "Uruguayan Kim Kardashian" in the local media. In an interview with "El Pais" in 2021, she actually accepted the comparison with enthusiasm: "It's really nice because I like her. I'm a big fan of hers."
Even before her relationship with Luciano Rodriguez, she was linked to footballers. Chiavaglia previously had relationships with Nicolas Schiappacasse and Alan Matturro, a defender for the Uruguay youth national team. The relationship with Matturro received great exposure during Uruguay's victory in the 2023 U-20 World Cup, and she even moved with him to Italy when he played for Genoa.
The relationship with Rodriguez only became official recently. In early July 2026, it was reported in Uruguay that Chiavaglia confirmed the relationship through a joint photo of the two on social media. Therefore, the embarrassing moment at his presentation at Cruzeiro came shortly after the relationship became public, which also explains why the video quickly sparked speculation about a crisis between the two, which she was quick to deny.
