Sanchez wasn’t immensely talented in a technical sense, he was strong and quick but because he was one footed didn’t have tremendous ball control. Good shot on him though, but essentially as you get older that testosterone fuelled bulldozing just isn’t there anymore.
I guess to your point, South American football is all about admiration for ball skills whether it’s the Brazillian Joga Bonito…or the brilliance of Diego Armando. Less focus on the obdurate tough tackler who is left to get on with their game, whilst the immensely talented and coordinated players risk the hedonism of booze, yayo and girls because of their high profile.