Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and surpassed 100 profession objectives for Argentina with three within the first half of Tuesday’s (March 28) worldwide pleasant towards Curacao. The World Cup winners beat the Caribbean facet 7-0 of their second match since clinching the trophy in December.
The 35-year-old Messi opened the scoring towards Curacao within the twentieth minute with a right-foot shot from the sting of the field to achieve the 100-goal milestone. Nico Gonzalez added one other three minutes later with a header from shut vary.
LIONEL MESSI HAT TRICK FOR THE WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS ARGENTINA! __pic.twitter.com/EM5wEo9iEq
— Mundo Albiceleste _____ (@MundoAlbicelest) March 29, 2023
Messi then scored his one hundred and first for Argentina within the thirty third minute with a crossed shot to the fitting of the goalkeeper and his 102nd within the thirty seventh after a straightforward run to attain. Two minutes earlier he had assisted Enzo Fernandez’s blast from the sting of the field. The Argentine captain trails solely two gamers on the record of most objectives scored for nationwide groups in official matches; Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with 122, and Iran’s Ali Daei, with 109.
The tributes proceed to pour in for Lionel Messi following Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2022 triumph. South American soccer’s governing physique on Monday (March 27) offered the the 35-year-old Argentine star a with statue, which will likely be positioned within the CONMEBOL museum subsequent to these of legendary gamers Pele and Diego Maradona.
Messi additionally acquired replicas of the World Cup and the Finalissima trophy, which Argentina received towards Italy, throughout the ceremony earlier than the Copa Libertadores draw. His teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni acquired miniature trophies as effectively, together with that of the 2021 Copa America lifted in Brazil.
“We are living a very special and beautiful moment, getting a lot of love,” Messi stated throughout the tribute. “It was time for a South American team to win the World Cup again.”
Argentina beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday in Buenos Aires in its first worldwide pleasant since profitable the World Cup title in Qatar final December. Scaloni’s crew will face Curacao on Tuesday to rejoice with its followers within the countryside metropolis of Santiago del Estero.
(with PTI inputs)
