Lionel Messi cemented his status as one of football’s all-time greats, scoring a hat-trick against Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 10 international hat-tricks.
The 37-year-old Argentine captain led his team to a resounding 6-0 victory, scoring three goals and providing two assists. This impressive performance solidified Argentina’s position in the South American qualifiers, three points ahead of Colombia and six points above arch-rivals Brazil.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s night was starkly different. Portugal’s 0-0 draw against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League left Ronaldo visibly frustrated, with the superstar forward throwing tantrums after the game.
Messi’s achievement puts him level with Ronaldo in the international hat-trick record books. With this milestone, the debate about who is the greatest footballer of all time continues.
La Albiceleste’s convincing win keeps them on track for World Cup qualification. Can Messi lead his team to glory in 2026?
_Standings:_
South America 2026 World Cup Qualifiers:
1. Argentina (15 points)
2. Colombia (12 points)
3. Brazil (9 points)
