Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains one of the greatest footballers of all time, as he led Argentina to a resounding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The 37-year-old football icon delivered a masterclass performance at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, scoring his 10th international hat-trick and assisting two more goals.
The win propelled Argentina to the top of the South American qualifying group, three points clear of second-placed Colombia. Argentina’s victory came despite a somewhat rocky campaign so far, which included a defeat to Colombia and a draw against Venezuela in recent matches. But Messi’s brilliance on the night ensured Argentina remained firm favorites to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), has shown no signs of slowing down. Despite concerns over his fitness after a recent injury during the Copa America in July, he looked sharp and hungry against Bolivia. Making only his second appearance since the injury, Messi opened the scoring after 19 minutes, capitalizing on a defensive mistake to slot home a cool finish.
But Messi wasn’t done yet. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner then set up strikes for Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez, ensuring Argentina went into the half-time break with a comfortable 3-0 lead. With the game all but won, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni brought on fresh legs, including Thiago Almada, who made an immediate impact by netting Argentina’s fourth goal.
Late in the game, Messi delivered the final blow to Bolivia with two more goals in quick succession, first by dribbling past two defenders and then finding the bottom corner to complete his hat-trick. The stadium erupted as Messi’s name echoed through the crowd, and the Argentine legend basked in the adulation from his fans.
“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name,” Messi said after the match. “This drives me – enjoying 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, I’ll keep enjoying it.”
Messi’s hat-trick brought his tally of international goals to 112 in 189 appearances, putting him second only to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 133 international goals. Messi’s 10th international hat-trick also tied him with Ronaldo for the most hat-tricks scored in men’s international football, a record that reflects the two players’ long-standing rivalry as football’s top scorers.
Argentina’s dominance on the night was reflective of the team’s solid campaign despite recent hiccups. With 24 points from 10 games, they are well on track for qualification, and Messi’s return to form is likely to play a crucial role in their future performances.
Elsewhere in the qualifiers, Brazil bounced back from a disappointing string of results to claim an emphatic 4-0 win over Peru in Brasilia. The five-time World Cup champions had lost four of their previous five qualifiers, raising concerns about their form. However, they responded in style, with Raphinha leading the charge by scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Brazil’s head coach, Dorival Junior, expressed relief after the game. “We needed this. It was really important winning both games to get back on track,” Raphinha told TV Globo, reflecting the importance of the victory for Brazil’s campaign.
Additional goals from Fulham’s Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique capped off a much-needed win for the Seleção, who now sit fourth in the qualification table, six points behind Argentina.
In another standout result from the qualifiers, Colombia cruised to a 4-0 win over Chile, with in-form Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran scoring his seventh goal of the season in all competitions. Colombia’s win further solidified their place near the top of the qualification standings, with Davinson Sanchez, Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, and Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra also finding the net.
The top six teams from the South American group will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, and with Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia all delivering strong performances, the battle for qualification is heating up as the campaign continues.
Argentina’s commanding victory against Bolivia has re-established their status as one of the strongest teams in South America. With Messi leading the charge and his form showing no signs of fading, Argentina will be hopeful of securing their place in the 2026 World Cup and adding another title to their already impressive international record.
As the qualifiers progress, both Argentina and Brazil will look to maintain their momentum, while other teams like Colombia continue to push for automatic qualification. Fans across the continent will eagerly watch as their national teams strive to book a place in the biggest sporting event on the planet.
