Messi scores his 10th Argentina hat-trick but says ‘last games’ are approaching | Argentina

Lionel Messi scored his tenth hat-trick for Argentina to boost his profession whole for his nation to 112 objectives in a 6-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia on Tuesday.

Messi performed your complete match earlier than raucous followers at Estadio Monumental who chanted his title after he opened the scoring within the nineteenth minute. Messi added objectives within the 84th and 86th minutes. Solely Cristiano Ronaldo, with 133, has scored extra worldwide objectives in males’s soccer than Messi.

Nevertheless, the 37-year-old acknowledged his worldwide profession is approaching its finish when he refused to say whether or not he would play on the 2026 World Cup.

“I didn’t set any date or deadline about my future,” Messi mentioned. “I’m simply having fun with all this. I’m extra emotional than ever and taking all of the love from the individuals as a result of I do know these could be my final video games.”

Messi mentioned his youthful teammates assist him take pleasure in soccer as he approaches 40. “It’s a pleasure to be current and admire this second. Being surrounded by youthful teammates, given my age, makes me really feel like a child once more,” Messi mentioned. “I discover myself doing foolish issues as a result of I really feel so comfy. So long as I keep that feeling and may proceed contributing to the workforce, I plan to be right here having fun with [the national team].”

Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni mentioned he hopes Messi’s worldwide profession continues so long as doable.

“It by no means ceases to amaze,” Scaloni instructed reporters. “At one level I sit down with [assistant coach’ Pablo Aimar and inform him that that is fantastic. To have the ability to be on the bench and see the issues he does? The workforce is with him and what I ask him to do is to play so long as he can.”

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Brazil and their under-pressure coach Dorival Júnior obtained some reduction with a convincing efficiency in a 4-0 dwelling win towards Peru.

Argentina lead South American qualifying with 22 factors after 10 matches, three factors away from second-place Colombia, who beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay, who earlier had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil have 16 factors every, with the Uruguayans in third place on objective distinction. Ecuador and Paraguay observe with 13 factors apiece, with Ecuadorians fifth on objective distinction.

The highest six groups safe computerized berths within the 2026 World Cup. The seventh-place workforce, at present Bolivia, will play in a global playoff for a spot within the expanded 48-team event.