Lionel Messi surpasses 100-goal mark for Argentina with first-half hattrick in 7-0 rout of Curacao
Lionel Messi surpasses the 100-goal mark for Argentina by scoring a first-half hat trick in the World Cup champions’ 7-0 international friendly win against Curacao.
Lionel Messi surpassed 100 career goals for Argentina with a hat trick in the first half of the World Cup champions’ 7-0 rout of Curacao on Tuesday.
Messi, 35, opened the scoring in the international friendly against the Caribbean team in the 20th minute with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area to reach 100.
He added the 101 for Argentina with a cross shot to the right of the goalkeeper and the 102 after an easy play to score. Argentina led Curaçao 5-0 at halftime, with Nico González and Enzo Fernández also putting their names on the scoreboard.
The Argentine captain is only two players away on the list of most goals scored with national teams in official matches; the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, with 122, and the Iranian Ali Daei, with 109.
The friendly in Santiago del Estero is Argentina’s second since winning the World Cup title in December. Messi’s team beat Panama 2-0 in Buenos Aires last week.
More to follow.
Lionel Messi surpassed 100 career goals for Argentina with a hattrick against Curaçao on Tuesday