“Avatar” star Sam Worthington belted a freelance paparazzo in the face Sunday after the lensman kicked the actor’s girlfriend in Greenwich Village, a police source said.

The 37-year-old Aussie hunk was charged with assault and released on a desk-appearance ticket after the 5:30 p.m. run-in with photographer Sheng Li in front of the Cubbyhole bar at Jane and Greenwich streets.

The trouble began when Li walked up to Worthington’s gal pal, Lara Bingle, 26, and allegedly kicked her.

The ensuing dust-up took place in front of shocked onlookers who took to Twitter to describe what they saw.

“Just saw Sam Worthington and [Lara] bingle get in physical fight with paparazzi . . . Cops just got here,” a user called @harrisonjobe posted.

“Pretty sure I just saw Sam Worthington getting arrested in Greenwich Village. Definitely in a cop car. Ok,” @MiriamEliseMP tweeted.

“Just saw Sam Worthington get arrested. Hashtag New York moment,” @eemmmmaa sent shortly afterward.

After seeing Bingle allegedly being kicked, Worthington went into action-hero mode and punched Li in the face, leaving him bleeding and scratched on his nose.

Li was charged with assault, harassment and reckless endangerment, and was held for arraignment.

Worthington was given a desk appearance ticket and released, sources said.

Bingle and Worthington have been making headlines recently for their love life. The pair were spotted in New York on Thursday with matching gold bands, according to People magazine, which speculated the couple had been secretly married.

On Valentine’s Day, Bingle, also Australian, posted a selfie to Instagram with Worthington and what appeared to be the wedding ring, People added. Reps for the couple have not commented on whether they tied the knot, the mag said.

This is the second arrest for Worthington. He was busted for disorderly conduct in 2012 when he tried to enter an Atlanta restaurant called The Vortex Bar and Grill and got into an argument with the doorman, who accused him of being drunk. A witness told cops that Worthington pushed the doorman twice, TMZ reported at the time.

The doorman then pepper-sprayed him.

Additional reporting by Antonio Antenucci and Kenneth Garger