The good times are continuing for Argentine great Lionel Messi. Barely two months after lifting the Copa America in July and a month after signing with PSG, Messi is now South America's top goal scorer.
On Thursday, Messi surpassed Brazilian legend Pele to become South America's top goal scorer with 79 goals as he scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier at Buenos Aires.
Messi went into the match needing a solitary goal to draw level with Pele. “Messi got the opener after 14 minutes in Buenos Aires, dancing around the Bolivian defence before curling the ball into the net from just outside the box. He made it 2-0 in the 64th minute after working a one-two with Lautaro Martinez and displaying superb footwork in a packed penalty box, then completed the hat-trick with two minutes left, crashing home a rebound from close range,” Reuters reported.
Messi became emotional as he celebrated the Copa America triumph with Argentine fans, who were watching the home side in action for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Messi danced with his team mates and showed off the Copa America trophy. “There was no better way to celebrate than by being here... My mum is here, my siblings are in the stands. They have suffered so much and they are here celebrating. I am very happy,” Messi was quoted as saying by Reuters.
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Argentina are in second place behind Brazil in the 10-team qualifying group for the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
In the other game on Thursday, Colombia beat Chile 3-1 at Barranquilla. Colombia are in fifth place in the qualifying table while Chile are eighth.
