LIONEL MESSI MAKES HISTORY WITH 100TH GOAL FOR ARGENTINA

Wed 29 March 2023:

In a 7-0 friendly victory over Curacao, Argentina captain Lionel Messi has passed the 100-goal mark for the reigning world champions.

Seven-time Awarded the Ballon d’Or Messi scored the game’s first goal in 20 minutes against the Caribbean island Minnows in Santiago del Estero on Tuesday, bringing his career total to 100. It happened 17 years after he made his Argentina debut against Croatia in a 3-2 loss in March 2006.

After 30 minutes, the 35-year-old added another goal to make it 3-0, and on 37 minutes, he scored the fifth goal of his hat-trick as Argentina played with their inferior opponents.

It was his seventh hat trick for the national team.

“You cannot describe Messi in words,” said fellow goalscorer Nicolas Gonzalez. “He’s the best in the world and he shows it match after match, day after day. Every time he touches the ball, he makes you smile.”

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.

“I hope there will be more [goals from Messi], he deserves all the praise and it’s good that these goals had been on Argentine soil, that has a special value too,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

It was always going to be about Messi reaching 100 goals in Argentina’s second game since winning the World Cup in a dramatic finale against France in Qatar in December. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.

He ranks third all-time, behind his fierce rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Ali Daei of Iran. (109).

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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