LIONEL Messi bagged a hat-trick in the early hours of today to take his international tally beyond a century of goals.
The Argentina captain once again starred for the world champions as they routed Curacao 7-0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires.
Messi, his country’s leading scorer, reached 100 goals when he opened the scoring in the 20th minute from Giovani Lo Celso’s assist.
Nicolas Gonzalez doubled Argentina’s lead moments after with a header past Curacao keeper Eloy Room before Messi netted his second in the 33rd minute.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Messi then set up Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez to fire home from the edge of the box for Argentina’s fourth goal two minutes later.
Messi, 35, completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute with a simple finish following another pass from Lo Celso to reach a remarkable 102 international goals.
Substitute Angel Di Maria made it 6-0 from the penalty spot in the 78th minute and Gonzalo Montiel, who scored Argentina’s last penalty to beat France in the World Cup final in Qatar, completed the thrashing three minutes from time.
“We will never stop celebrating and I think it’s fair and deserved,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the big win over the team ranked 86th in the world by FIFA.
“I hope there will be more (Messi goals), he deserves all the praise and it’s good that these goals had been on Argentine soil, that has a special value too.”
Messi’s 102 goals and 54 assists have come in 174 caps for three-time world champions Argentina, ranked No.2 in the world.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is the third footballer in history to reach 100 international goals after Iran’s Ali Daei (109) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (122).
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