Messi scores his tenth Argentina hat-trick however says ‘final video games’ are approaching

Lionel Messi scored his tenth hat-trick for Argentina to boost his profession complete 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 will be my final video games.”

Messi mentioned his youthful teammates assist him get pleasure from 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 snug. So long as I keep that feeling and may proceed contributing to the crew, 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 attainable.

“It by no means ceases to amaze,” Scaloni advised reporters. “At one level I sit down with [assistant coach’ Pablo Aimar and tell him that this is wonderful. To be able to be on the bench and see the things he does? The team is with him and what I ask him to do is to play as long as he can.”

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Brazil and their under-pressure coach Dorival Júnior got some relief with a convincing performance in a 4-0 home win against Peru.

Argentina lead South American qualifying with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay, who earlier had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil have 16 points each, with the Uruguayans in third place on goal difference. Ecuador and Paraguay follow with 13 points apiece, with Ecuadorians fifth on goal difference.

The top six teams secure automatic berths in the 2026 World Cup. The seventh-place team, currently Bolivia, will play in an international playoff for a spot in the expanded 48-team tournament.