Messi’s Historic Hat-Trick
Lionel Messi notched his 10th international hat-trick as Argentina defeated Bolivia 6-0 in World Cup qualifying. The 37-year-old forward, currently with Inter Miami, also assisted two goals during the match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. With this performance, he matched Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks in men’s international football.
Argentina’s Qualifying Campaign
Argentina currently leads the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, holding a three-point advantage over Colombia, despite a previous loss to Colombia and a draw against Venezuela in recent matches. Messi expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s really nice to come here and feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name.”
Messi’s Reflections
“This motivates me—being happy where I am. Despite my age, I feel like a kid when I’m with this team because I’m comfortable here. As long as I feel good and can perform the way I want, I’ll continue to enjoy it,” said Messi.
A Stellar Performance
In just his second match for Argentina since injuring himself at the Copa America in July, Messi took advantage of a defensive mistake to score the opening goal in the 19th minute. He then assisted Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez before substitute Thiago Almada added a fourth goal. Late in the game, Messi scored twice within two minutes, first evading two defenders to net his second, then sealing his hat-trick by finding the bottom corner.
Career Milestones
With 112 goals in 189 appearances for Argentina, Messi trails only Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 133 goals in men’s internationals.
Brazil’s Resurgence
In other news, Raphinha scored twice as Brazil, struggling recently, bounced back with a convincing 4-0 win over Peru in Brasilia, marking their second consecutive victory. Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, had struggled recently, losing four of their last five qualifiers before securing a win against Chile on Thursday. Under coach Dorival Junior, Brazil currently sits fourth in the standings, six points behind Argentina after 10 matches.
World Cup Qualifying Overview
The top six teams in the qualifying rounds will earn automatic spots for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In the match against Chile, Raphinha scored two penalties, one in each half, followed by late goals from Fulham’s Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique. Raphinha emphasized the importance of the victory, stating, “We needed this. Winning both games was crucial to getting back on track.”
Colombia’s Dominance
Meanwhile, Colombia enjoyed a dominant 4-0 victory over Chile, with Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran netting his seventh goal of the season. Davinson Sanchez, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, and Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra also found the net in Barranquilla.