Argentine star Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, passed two decisive balls, and led his country to victory over its Bolivian guest 6-0 at Mas Monumental Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires, in the tenth round of the South American continent’s qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. .
Messi scored his hat-trick in the 19th, 84th and 86th minutes, and assisted on the goals of Lautaro Martinez (43rd) and Julián Alvarez (45+3). Thiago Almada added the fourth goal (69), in front of 85,000 spectators.
Messi (37 years old), who won the Ballon d’Or for the best player in the world eight times, was absent from the field for a period of two months due to a foot injury during the “Albiceleste” victory in the Copa America title at the expense of Colombia (1-0 after overtime), before he returned to score at the beginning of this month. Two goals with his American team, Inter Miami, raising his tally to 17 goals and 15 assists in the league.
The former Spanish Barcelona star, who missed the scoring in the positive draw against Venezuela 1-1 in the last stage, scored the tenth “hat-trick” in his career for his country, raising his international goalscoring tally to 112, and to 846 goals in his career.
“The Flea” also topped the list of scorers on the continent with 6 goals, ahead of Uruguayan Darwin Nuñez (5) and Colombian Luis Diaz (4).
Argentina raised its score at the top of the unified group to 22 points, 3 points ahead of Colombia, which won over its host Chile 4-0 in Barranquilla, and 6 points ahead of Uruguay, which fell into a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil, which strengthened its score in fourth place with its clear victory over its host. Peru 4-0.
Rafinha led the five-time world champions to achieve their second successive victory after beating Chile 2-1 in the last stage, scoring two goals (38 and 54 from two penalty kicks), and substitutes Andreas Pereira III added a wonderful overhead kick (71), and Luis Enrique IV (74).
Paraguay, sixth with 13 points, increased its chances of obtaining one of the six direct qualifying cards for the World Cup thanks to substitute Antonio Sanabria, who scored two goals in the 2-1 victory over Venezuela.