Lionel Messi's Hat-trick breaks Pele's South American goalscoring record

Lionel Messi has scored his 79th international career goal for Argentina, surpassing the South American men's record held by Brazil legend Pele.

( Picture: @Ankurmessi_ / twitter)

Messi scored all three goals in Argentina's3-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday in a World Cup qualifying match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, giving him two more than Pele, who had 77 career goals in international play.

The 34-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, making his 153rd appearance for Argentina, drew level with Pele's longstanding mark of 77 goals in the 14th minute, nutmegging a defender and then curling a sublime shot past Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe.

( Picture: @Ankurmessi_ / twitter)

In his 153rd appearance for Argentina, Lionel Messi became South America's top international goal-scorer (AFP Photo)

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BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to overtake Pele as the top international goal-scorer in South American football history on Thursday as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier.

Messi pounced for his 77th, 78th and 79th international goals to keep Argentina firmly on course for a place at next year's finals in Qatar against a Bolivia team languishing near the foot of the table.

The Argentina captain then moved one clear of Pele in the 64th minute with his second of the night, surging into the Bolivian box and playing a one-two with Lautaro Martinez before tucking away a finish from close range.

Messi completed the seventh international hat-trick of his career two minutes from time, burying a rebound from close range after a shot from the edge of the area was only parried by Lampe.

The victory came just four days after Argentina were embroiled in controversy with regional rivals Brazil in Sao Paulo, with the two teams' qualifier on Sunday abandoned after seven minutes due to a Covid-19 controversy.

There was no sign of a hangover from the controversy amongst Argentina's players on Thursday, as Messi quickly took centre stage to surpass Brazilian great Pele's record in style. With Messi in typically impish form, Argentina might have had more goals.

The win leaves the two-time World Cup winners second in South America's overall qualifying standings with 18 points from eight games.

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