Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick as Argentina defeated Bolivia 6-0 in World Cup qualifying matches. The 37-year-old forward, currently with Inter Miami, also assisted two goals during the match held at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
With this performance, Messi equaled Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks in men's international football. Argentina currently leads the South American qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, holding a three-point advantage over Colombia, despite recent setbacks including a loss to Colombia and a draw with Venezuela.
Messi expressed his appreciation for the support from 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 added that his comfort with the team allows him to enjoy the game, regardless of his age.
In the match, Messi capitalized on a defensive error to score the opening goal in the 19th minute. He later assisted Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez before substitute Thiago Almada extended the lead to 4-0. Messi scored twice in quick succession late in the game, bringing his total to 112 goals in 189 appearances for Argentina, second only to Ronaldo's 133 in men's internationals.
In other qualifying matches, Raphinha scored twice as Brazil secured a 4-0 victory over Peru in Brasilia, marking back-to-back wins for the team. Brazil, the record five-time World Cup champions, had previously struggled, losing four of their last five qualifiers.
Raphinha converted two penalties, with additional goals from Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique sealing the win. He remarked, "We needed this. It was really important winning both games to get back on track." Brazil is currently fourth in the qualifying table, six points behind Argentina.
Meanwhile, Colombia achieved a 4-0 victory over Chile, with in-form Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran scoring his seventh goal of the season. Other goals came from Davinson Sanchez, Liverpool's Luis Diaz, and Bournemouth's Luis Sinisterra.
The top six teams in the South American qualifying group will secure automatic spots for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.