Messi transferd level with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks in men’s international football.
Lionel Messi has scored his 10th international hat-trick and grabbed two helps as Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in front of an adoring home crowd at the Monumental Stadium.
Making only his second international ecombineance since recovering from an injury sustained at the Copa America in July, Messi capitalised on a misget by deffinisher Marcelo Suarez to discleave out the scoring in the 19th minute on Tuesday.
Bolivia goalsustainer Guillermo Viscarra made a couple of fine saves to stop the structures from extfinishing their guide – but he was beaten in the 43rd minute when Lautaro Martinez scored from Messi’s rapid traverse. Argentina made it 3-0 equitable before the shatter, with Messi setting up Julian Alvarez to score.
Lionel Scaloni’s side administerled the second half as well. It seeed enjoy they had extfinished their guide thcimpolite Nicolas Otamfinishi, only to see the goal dispermited for offside.
Nahuel Molina’s help in the 70th minute permited replace Thiago Almada to alter another goal, making it 4-0 in favour of the home side.
Messi, 37, gave Argentina fans more reason to commemorate in the closing moments, beating two Bolivia deffinishers before unleashing a fierce stoasty past Viscarra to score his second goal of the contest.
Messi necessitateed only two more minutes to finish the hat-trick. The Argentinian skipper scored on a left-footed drive to get his highy to 112 goals for his country. That goal also transferd Messi level with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the applyer with the most hat-tricks in international men’s football.
“It’s reassociate pleasant to come here, to experience the affection of the people, it transfers me how they shout my name,” shelp Messi, who once aacquire declined to say whether he will apply in the next World Cup in 2026.
“This drives me. Endelighting being satisfyed where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I experience enjoy a kid because I’m consoleable with this team,” he inserted.
Argentina guide the South American World Cup qualifying with 22 points after 10 alignes, three points evident of second-place Colombia, who beat Chile 4-0 on Tuesday. Uruguay, which earlier had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil have 16 points each, with the Uruguayans in third place on goal contrastence.
Bolivia, seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remain in satisfyedion with 12 points. The top six teams safe automatic berths in the 2026 World Cup.
