Lionel Messi: 3rd to Score 100 Goals With Ninth International Hat-Trick
After he scored the game’s first goal in the 20th minute in Santiago del Estero, Messi became the third player in history to reach 100 goals in an international competition. Later in the first half, he quickly added his 101st and 102nd goals.
At halftime, Argentina led Curaçao; a team rated 84 places lower in the FIFA rankings than the world champion, 5-0. Goals from Nicolás González and Enzo Fernández added to that advantage.
For most of the second half, there was no scoring, but in the closing 15 minutes, Argentina scored twice—once on an Ángel Di María penalty kick and once on a Gonzalo Montiel assist following Paulo Dybala’s cross.
Only a few days prior, on Thursday, against Panama in a friendly match, Messi scored his 800th career goal. He now holds the third-place spot among all active international goal scorers, trailing Iran’s Ali Daei by seven goals and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal by 15.
According to Reuters, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters he hopes there will be more [scores from Messi]. He deserves all the acclaim, and it’s nice that these goals have been on Argentine territory, which has a unique significance too.
After Cristiano Ronaldo and Sweden’s Sven Rydell (both with nine), Messi is the only player with nine international hat-tricks (10).
Players donned commemorative jerseys at the presentation of a replica trophy in front of a large crowd on Tuesday, continuing Argentina’s World Cup festivities.
