Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass performance as Argentina cruised to a 6-0 win against Bolivia in their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. The 37-year-old legend showed his class with a vintage hat trick, two assists, and his signature flair throughout the match, ensuring a dominant display from the reigning world champions.
The match, held at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, saw Messi open the scoring in the 19th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error from Bolivia’s Marcelo Suarez, with Lautaro Martinez providing the assist. Messi’s clinical finish set the tone for the rest of the game.
Before halftime, Argentina extended their lead with Messi unselfishly setting up Martinez for a simple tap-in after a brilliant pass from Julian Alvarez. Alvarez got on the scoresheet himself moments later, scoring Argentina’s third goal after a clever free kick from Messi.
In the second half, Thiago Almada made it 4-0 after Nahuel Molina’s superb pull-back, and Messi added two more goals in the final minutes. His second goal of the night came after a trademark dribble, and his third sealed the win with a smart one-two off Nico Paz, leaving fans in awe.
The win places Argentina firmly at the top of the qualifying table, with 22 points from 10 games, three points ahead of second-place Colombia.
Colombia Thrash Chile 4-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Colombia delivered a dazzling performance in Barranquilla, defeating Chile 4-0 while wearing a special retro kit in honor of the Colombian Football Federation’s centenary. Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a header, and Luis Diaz added a second after halftime following a defensive mistake by Chile.
Substitute Jhon Duran made it 3-0 late in the game after another Chilean giveaway, and Luis Sinisterra sealed the dominant victory in stoppage time.
With the win, Colombia solidified their position in the qualifying race while Chile remained rooted at the bottom of the group.
Brazil Ease Past Peru 4-0 in World Cup Qualifier
Brazil secured a comfortable 4-0 win against Peru in Brasilia, with two penalties from Raphinha and brilliant goals from Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique. Raphinha’s penalties came after two handball and foul incidents involving Carlos Zambrano, and Pereira’s stunning scissor-kick volley was a highlight of the game. Luiz Henrique capped the win with a spectacular left-footed strike from outside the box.
Brazil now sits fourth in the qualification standings as they chase one of the six automatic spots for the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay Boosts Qualification Hopes with 2-1 Win Over Venezuela
Paraguay strengthened their chances for World Cup qualification with a 2-1 comeback win against Venezuela. Jon Aramburu put Venezuela ahead in the 25th minute, but Paraguay’s substitute Antonio Sanabria scored twice in the second half, including the winner from a counter-attack, to secure the crucial victory.
Uruguay and Ecuador Play Out a Goalless Draw
In another qualifier, Uruguay and Ecuador battled to a goalless draw, leaving both teams still in contention for the six automatic qualification spots.
