SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Argentina’s football captain Lionel Messi has passed the 100-goal mark for the reigning world champions, as he scored a hat trick in a 7-0 friendly win over Curacao.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi opened the scoring against the Caribbean island Minnows after 20 minutes in Santiago del Estero on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old netted once again after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0 and then completed his hat-trick on 37 minutes with the fifth as Argentina toyed with their outclassed opponents.
The achievement comes 17 years after he opened his Argentina account in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in 2006.
It was his seventh hat trick for the national football team.
Messi’s stunning career
“You can’t describe Messi in words,” said fellow goalscorer Nicolas Gonzalez. “He’s the best in the world, and he shows it match after match, and day after day. Every time he touches a ball, he makes you smile.”
Lionel Messi came into the game not just as his country’s all-time record goalscorer but with more goals than the next two top marksmen – Gabriel Batistuta with 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 – put together.
This was Argentina’s second match since winning the World Cup in impressive style against France in Qatar, triumphing 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
He is ranked third in the all-time list, behind great rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
