Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to the Argentine national team after 333 days, showcasing his skills by scoring three stunning goals and providing two assists against Bolivia during the South American Qualifiers. With this performance, he became the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.
The play leading to Argentina’s first goal began with excellent pressure and recovery from Lautaro Martínez. The Inter striker intercepted the ball from Marcelo Suárez during Bolivia’s buildup, set up Messi, who scored the opener in the 19th minute of the first half.
In the second half, Messi added two more goals in quick succession, first scoring a right-footed shot in the 84th minute and then using his signature move to complete his hat-trick two minutes later. This achievement made him the leading scorer in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Additionally, Messi assisted Lautaro Martínez for Argentina’s second goal and set up Julián Álvarez for the third, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats in football history.
After an extensive period away from playing for the national team due to injuries and recovery, Messi’s return was marked by a resounding performance, as he opened the scoring against Bolivia in the tenth round of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.