A mixture of photographs exhibits Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. — Reuters/Information
Argentine fooball legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday equalled Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo’s file for many worldwide hat-tricks as he scored his tenth such hat-trick.
Messi, 36, achieved the most recent feat as his nationwide staff thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in entrance of a house crowd on the Monumental stadium and helped rating two extra targets.
In solely his second worldwide look since recovering from an damage sustained on the Copa America in July, the Inter Miami star capitalised on a mistake by defender Marcelo Suarez to open the scoring within the nineteenth minute.
Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra made a few positive saves to stop the hosts from extending their lead however he was crushed within the forty third minute when Lautaro Martinez scored from Messi’s fast cross.
Argentina made it 3-0 simply earlier than the break, with Messi organising Julian Alvarez to attain.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or award winner accomplished the hat-trick, scoring with a left-footed drive to take his tally to 112 targets for his nation.
“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people, it moves me how they shout my name,” mentioned the previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
“This drives me. Enjoying being happy where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team. As long as I feel good and can keep performing the way I want, I’ll keep enjoying it.”
Argentina are high of the standings with 22 factors, having returned to profitable methods after shedding to Colombia final month and drawing with Venezuela final week.
The 2026 World Cup shall be hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.
