Lionel Messi rolled back the years with a vintage performance, leading Argentina to a dominant 6-0 victory over Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, CNN reports.
The 37-year-old forward notched his 10th international hat-trick, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record in men’s soccer.
Messi, who recently joined Inter Miami, provided a masterclass in attacking brilliance. He not only scored three goals, but also delivered two assists, showcasing his exceptional vision and technical prowess.
The reigning world champions started the match with a bang, with Messi opening the scoring in the 19th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. He then played a key role in the second goal, cleverly setting up Lautaro Martínez for an easy tap-in in the 43rd minute.
Messi’s exquisite pass from a quick free kick found Julián Álvarez, who calmly slotted the ball over the Bolivian goalkeeper to extend Argentina’s lead before halftime.
The second half continued in the same vein, with Thiago Almada adding the fourth goal in the 69th minute. Messi then ignited the home crowd with two spectacular strikes in quick succession.
His first goal was reminiscent of his Barcelona days, as he weaved through the Bolivian defense and unleashed a low shot past the goalkeeper. His second goal was equally impressive, as he curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Argentina’s next qualifier is against Paraguay on November 14.
