Lionel Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick for Argentina on Tuesday night, leading his team to a dominant 6-0 victory against Bolivia in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi made his second international appearance for the country after returning from injury at the Copa America in July. “It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people; it moves me how they shout my name,” the 37-year-old Messi said after the match.
In case you are wondering whether Messi is going to retire from football, he’s not. The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion expressed that he hasn’t set a timeline for his international career, as he continues to enjoy his time with the national squad. “I haven’t set any date or deadline regarding my future; I just want to enjoy all of this. It moves me more than ever to be here and feel the love of the people because I know these could be my last matches.”
“I am happy,” – Messi
“This drives me. I enjoy 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, we’ll keep enjoying it,” Messi explained.
Messi equals Ronaldo’s record
This match was significant for Messi, as he not only scored three goals but also helped his team with two assists. It marked the first occasion he netted a hat-trick while also providing multiple assists for Argentina. With his 10th hat-trick, Messi has now equalled his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s record on the international stage.
