In a 7-0 friendly victory over Curacao, Argentina skipper Lionel Messi has now scored 100 goals for the defending world champions.
Seven-time Awarded the Ballon d’Or Messi scored the game’s first goal in 20 minutes against the Caribbean territory 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.
He had seven hat tricks overall for the national squad.
Messi is indescribable, according to teammate goal scorer Nicolas Gonzalez. “He proves time and time again that he is the greatest in the world. He brings a grin to your face each time he touches the ball.
In addition to holding the record for most goals scored by a single nation, Messi entered the tournament with more goals than the next two leading scorers combined (Sergio Aguero with 41 and Gabriel Batistuta with 56).
It was always going to be about Messi hitting 100 goals in Argentina’s second game since winning the World Cup in dramatic fashion 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 adversary Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Ali Daei of Iran. (109).
