Not that it's surprising, but Lionel Messi can still do it all in key games.
The 37-year-old forward led Argentina to a dominant 6-0 win versus Bolivia during 2026 World Cup qualifying action Tuesday.
Messi scored three goals and assisted two, contributing five goals and assists in a six-goal performance. The performance made it 846 career goals, club and country.
The Inter Miami star opened the scoring in the 19th minute, slotting the ball to the bottom right corner after being found wide open behind Bolivia's defensive line.
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
🔥 ¡MESSI, MESSI, MESSI, SIEMPRE MESSI!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 16, 2024
⚽️ 110 goles con la albiceleste y pone arriba a su equipo 👏
🇦🇷 #Argentina 1-0 #Bolivia 🇧🇴
📺📱 EN VIVO por @NBCUniverso y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/v8GxDL2T2P#RumboAlMundial #MundialTelemundo #EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/ktVlSTFL3l
Argentina led 3-0 at the break thanks to a second goal via Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez. Julian Alvarez, now with Atletico Madrid, tripled the lead in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Thiago Almada, currently playing in Brazil after making waves in MLS, added the fourth goal in the 69th minute.
Soccer
Then came Messi's brace and subsequent hat-trick, as he found the net in the 84th and 86th minutes.
🤩 ¡DOBLETE DE LIONEL MESSI!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 16, 2024
Otro gol para Leo en la noche, ¡EL MVP DEL PARTIDO! 🔥
🇦🇷 #Argentina 5-0 #Bolivia 🇧🇴
📺📱 EN VIVO por @NBCUniverso y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/v8GxDL2T2P#RumboAlMundial #MundialTelemundo #EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/R6KJvcruAW
⚽️⚽️⚽️ ¡HAT-TRICK DE LEO MESSI!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 16, 2024
Otra vez Lionel, tres goles y dos asistencias en la noche 😍
🇦🇷 #Argentina 6-0 #Bolivia 🇧🇴
📺📱 EN VIVO por @NBCUniverso y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/v8GxDL2T2P#RumboAlMundial #MundialTelemundo #EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/qrFhjwqlbr
Argentina recorded 14 shots on the night, with 10 on target. Bolivia had the opposite showing, mustering just four shots with one on target.
The result kept La Albiceleste atop the standings for World Cup standings, as they remain three points above high-flying Colombia, which is in second place.
Uruguay and Brazil round out the top four, with the latter in a struggling phase while Neymar Jr. continues to rehab from serious lower-leg injuries.
