Lionel Messi achieved a milestone in his career by scoring his 100th goal for Argentina during their dominant 7-0 victory over Curacao. The 35-year-old scored a hattrick in the first half of the match, opening the scoring with a right-footed shot from the edge of the box. He went on to score two more goals, bringing his total to 102 goals for his national team. Argentina was in control of the game, leading 5-0 at halftime with Nico Gonzalez and Enzo Fernandez also getting on the scoresheet. Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Montiel increased Argentina’s lead in the second half with goals of their own.
Lionel Messi scored three goals against Curacao on Tuesday, bringing his total career goals for Argentina to over 100.
He found the back of the net in the 20th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area, reaching a significant achievement in the game.
The Argentine captain marked his 101st goal for Argentina with an impressive shot that went past the goalkeeper on the right side of the net. He now stands as the third highest goal-scorer for a national team in official matches, behind Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Ali Daei of Iran.
Being the first South American male player to reach the 100-goal milestone, he follows Brazil’s Marta as the second highest South American goal-scorer overall. Nearly half of his goals (46) have been scored in international friendlies, showcasing his versatility and skill on the field.
Notably, Messi has scored 28 goals in World Cup qualifiers, including a memorable hat trick against Ecuador that secured Argentina’s spot in the 2018 World Cup. With 13 goals in the Copa America and being the highest goal-scorer for Argentina in World Cup competitions, his impact on the team’s success is undeniable.
The recent friendly match in Santiago del Estero was Argentina’s second game since their World Cup triumph, where Messi’s team emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Panama in Buenos Aires.