Andrés Roca Rey, a bullfighter often compared to soccer star Lionel Messi for his agility and daring, was recently tossed by a bull and clung to its horns for his life in an amphitheater in Arles, France. The incident occurred months after the 29-year-old Peruvian matador suffered a severe goring in Seville, Spain.
Video footage shows Roca Rey being lifted off his feet and carried around the arena by the bull, named Vicioso. He was seen grappling to free himself from between the animal's horns before a group of approximately ten men intervened to distract the bull and allow for his rescue. After being freed, Roca Rey, despite being bruised, remarkably returned to face the bull.
Roca Rey, who holds Spanish citizenship and moved to the country at age 13 to pursue his bullfighting career, is renowned for his bold performances. However, his career has been marked by several dangerous encounters.
In April, he sustained a deep gash in his leg after being impaled and lifted by a bull in Seville. Another incident in October 2024 saw him tossed like a rag doll while still attached to a bull's horns, flipping him into the air before he landed on the sand. He attempted to shield himself as the bull attacked again, spearing his uniform and shaking him violently.
Historically, Roca Rey has faced numerous dangerous situations in the bullring. He was gored five times in his first five fights. In 2016, a widely circulated video showed him being gored by a bull, marking his fourth goring that year. He had only recently recovered from a prior incident that left him unconscious.
In that 2016 event, the bull caught Roca Rey on its horns as he attempted a pass with his cloak, sending him spinning before throwing him to the ground. The animal then gored and trampled him. While the extent of his injuries was not fully disclosed, reports indicated he suffered a concussion and a shattered right cheekbone, and was advised to rest by medical professionals.
Public opinion on bullfighting in Spain shows a decline in support, with polls from 2025 indicating that around 77 percent of Spaniards oppose the practice, including over 80 percent of those under 35.