Lionel Messi Scores 10th Hat-Trick in Argentina's 6-0 Victory

Lionel Messi achieved his 10th international hat-trick, leading Argentina to a dominant 6-0 victory over Bolivia in World Cup qualifying. The 37-year-old Inter Miami forward also assisted two goals during the match at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most hat-tricks in men’s international football. With this win, Argentina holds a three-point lead over Colombia at the top of the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup.

This comes despite Argentina’s recent loss to Colombia in September and a draw with Venezuela last week. Messi expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the fans, stating, “It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name.” He emphasized his happiness in playing for the national team, saying that as long as he feels good and can perform well, he will continue enjoying the game.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. He then assisted Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez before substitute Thiago Almada added the fourth goal. Messi scored twice in quick succession late in the match, showcasing his skill by beating two defenders for his second goal and finishing his hat-trick with a precise shot into the bottom corner.

Overall, he has now netted 112 goals in 189 appearances for Argentina. Meanwhile, Brazil rebounded from recent struggles, securing a 4-0 win over Peru with Raphinha scoring twice from the penalty spot alongside goals from Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique. Brazil is currently fourth in the qualifying table, six points behind Argentina.

In another match, Colombia defeated Chile 4-0, with goals from Jhon Duran, Davinson Sanchez, Luis Diaz and Luis Sinisterra, highlighting their strong position in the qualifiers.