In a commanding display, Lionel Messi netted his 10th international hat-trick, leading Argentina to a resounding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in World Cup qualifying action.
The 37-year-old forward for Inter Miami, who contributed to two goals at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, has now matched Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the record of most hat-tricks in men’s international football.
Argentina currently holds a three-point advantage over Colombia at the summit of the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup. This comes in spite of their recent loss to Colombia in September and a draw against Venezuela last week.
Visiting this place offers a warm sense of community and connection with the locals. “It moves me how they shout my name,” Messi expressed.
“This motivates me: finding joy in my current circumstances.” Regardless of my age, being here brings out a youthful spirit in me, as I feel at ease with this team. “As long as I maintain my well-being and continue to perform to my standards, I will keep relishing the experience.”
In his second match back for Argentina following an injury sustained during the Copa America in July, Messi took advantage of a defensive blunder to score and give his team the lead after just 19 minutes.
Lautaro Martinez was assisted, followed by Julian Alvarez, before substitute Thiago Almada extended the lead to 4-0.
In a stunning display of skill, Messi netted two goals within a mere two minutes, skillfully maneuvering past two defenders to score his second. He capped off his hat-trick by finding the bottom corner of the net.
With 112 goals in 189 appearances, Messi ranks second in men’s international scoring, trailing only Ronaldo, who has netted 133 goals.
In a commanding performance, Raphinha netted two goals, leading Brazil to a decisive 4-0 victory against Peru in Brasilia. This was Brazil’s second consecutive win amidst a challenging period for the team.
Brazil, the record five-time World Cup champions, faced a challenging run. Prior to their victory over Chile on Thursday, they had lost four of their last five qualifiers.
Dorival Junior’s team currently occupies the fourth position in the standings, trailing Argentina by six points after completing 10 matches.
Six teams will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host.
Raphinha successfully converted a penalty in both halves of the match, while late goals from Fulham’s Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique added to the excitement.
“This was essential for us.” “Winning both games was crucial for us to regain our momentum,” Raphinha stated in an interview with TV Globo.
Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran continued his impressive form, netting his seventh goal of the season across all competitions as Colombia secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Chile.
In Barranquilla, Davinson Sanchez, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, and Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra netted goals.
