Argentine star Lionel Messi on Thursday surpassed Brazil’s Pele to become the top international goal scorer in South American history. The 34-year-old scored all goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win against Bolivia in World Cup qualifying, and is now 79 for the national team.
Both goals were pieces of art by the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, in front of about 20,000 fans at the Memorial Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The first came in the 14th minute, when Messi swung the ball between the legs of the Bolivian defender and shot from outside the box to the right of goalkeeper Carlos Lampe.
The second came in the 64th minute when he and striker Lautaro Martínez dazzled Bolivia’s defense with a quick exchange of four passes. Messi still had time to dribble a defender before scoring a goal.
After receiving a rebound from Lampe, Messi completed his hat-trick from close range in the 88th minute.
Messi did not talk about the record after the match, but celebrated by lifting the Copa America trophy in front of home fans, who were allowed to participate after a 20-month pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I waited a long time for it, I asked for it, I dreamed about it,” he said. “It’s a moment because it’s the way it happened, after so much waiting.”
He said, “There was no better way to celebrate than to be here. My mother, my brothers are here at the Tribune… They endured a lot and today they are celebrating here. I am very happy.”
Messi had a troubled relationship with the national team, with several painful defeats at the World Cup and Copa América, until leading the team to the continental title against Brazil in July. It was his first major title with Argentina, a team that was in a 28-year title drought.
Three-time World Cup winner Pele is currently in hospital due to surgery for a tumor in his colon.
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