[Results] Argentina 6-0 Bolivia

 Lionel Messi Shines with Hat Trick as Argentina Defeats Bolivia 6-0 in World Cup Qualifiers...

• The 37-year-old forward spearheaded Argentina's impressive 6-0 victory over Bolivia in Tuesday's 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
• Messi netted three goals and provided two assists, totalling five contributions in the six-goal match. This performance brought his career to 846 goals across club and international competitions.
• He reflected on his deep emotional connection with the fans while suggesting that he may be approaching the conclusion of his international career.

Lionel Messi delivered an extraordinary performance on Tuesday, scoring a hat trick and providing two assists as Argentina dismantled Bolivia 6-0 in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium. This match marked a significant milestone in Messi's international career, as it was the first time he recorded multiple goals and assists in a single game. The hat trick also marked his 10th for Argentina, tying him with Cristiano Ronaldo for the most hat tricks in international football.

Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Bolivia's Marcelo Suarez. Despite a few impressive saves from Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra, Argentina doubled their lead just before halftime. Lautaro Martinez scored from Messi's quick cross in the 43rd minute, followed shortly by Julián Álvarez finding the net with another assist from Messi.

In the second half, Argentina maintained control, with substitute Thiago Almada scoring the fourth goal in the 70th minute from Nahuel Molina’s pass. Messi capped off the dominant display with two late goals, sealing the victory for the Copa América winners, who now sit atop the qualifying standings with 22 points—three ahead of Colombia, who triumphed over Chile earlier in the day.

Following the match, Messi reflected on his future with the national team, acknowledging that he is approaching the twilight of his international career. "It is very nice to play here, feeling the affection of the Argentina fans. It makes me emotional to hear them shout my name," he stated. The 37-year-old emphasised the importance of cherishing every moment on the pitch, especially as he plays alongside younger teammates, saying, "I find myself doing silly things because I feel so comfortable."

Messi is set to return to his club, Inter Miami, but looks forward to donning the Argentina colours again in November for matches against Paraguay and Peru. While he has not set a timeline for retirement, it is clear that Messi is savouring each moment as a vital player for the reigning world champions.