Argentina 6-0 Bolivia: Messi hits hat-trick to seal 3pts, Lautaro & Alvarez net

Leo Messi with a hat-trick for Argentina tonight… making it 846 career goals! He’s been involved in 5 goals tonight. Three goals and two assists. Lautaro, Almada and Alvarez score. Argentina 6-0 Bolivia to end 2-game winless run, they are still at the top with 22 points.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' NO GOAL! Otamendi's shot ruled out for an earlier foul

9' Match Event for Argentina vs Bolivia

15' Julián Alvarez's shot saved by goalkeeper

19' It’s 110th goal for the national team ! Argentina 1-0 Bolivia (Messi)

30' Messi's freekick stopped!

35' Another view of Messi's free-kick that got the Bolivian Goal-keeper injured

43' UNSELFISH GOAT! Argentina 2-0 Bolivia (Lautaro Martínez)

47' Now Julián Alvarez adds a third! Argentina 3-0 Bolivia

59' Julián Alvarez's header over the bar

60' Powerful shot from Lautaro!

69' The first national team goal!! Argentina 4-0 Bolivia (Thiago Almada)

84' GOAL! Argentina 5-0 Bolivia (L. Messi)

86' GOAL! Argentina 6-0 Bolivia (L. Messi)

Match Report

Having been held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela last time out, the Albiceleste – who remained top of the CONMEBOL qualification group – took out their frustrations on Oscar Villegas' visitors.

Messi latched onto Lautaro Martinez's pass before coolly dispatching his finish past the oncoming Guillermo Viscarra for a 19th-minute opener, then a quickfire double on the stroke of half-time took the game away from Bolivia.

Messi unselfishly squared for Martinez to tap home their second in the 43rd minute, then recorded his second assist by finding Julian Alvarez with a quick free-kick three minutes into stoppage time, with the Atletico Madrid forward finishing on the bounce at the far post.

Nicolas Otamendi had a potential fourth disallowed for offside shortly after the restart, but they extended their lead further in the 69th minute, substitute Thiago Almada sweeping Nahuel Molina's cutback home.

From there, it was all about Messi, who scored twice in two minutes to bring up his 10th international hat-trick. The Inter Miami star finished on his right foot to cap a lightning break in the 84th minute, then beat Viscarra at his near post from 20 yards out to cap the victory with four minutes remaining.

Data Debrief: Messi ties Ronaldo on historic night for Argentina

Messi's treble took him joint-top of the charts for all-time hat-tricks in international football, alongside Ronaldo.

It was also the first time any player had recorded four or more goal involvements in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier since 2011, when Messi's club-mate Luis Suarez scored four times against Chile.

The win, Argentina's biggest in any World Cup qualifier, keeps them three points clear of Colombia at the top of the standings, with 10 of 18 games played. Bolivia sit seventh, 10 points back.

Line-ups

Argentina XI: Messi, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Gerónimo Rulli, De Paul, Lautaro, Nahuel Molina, Romero, Mac Allister, Julián Alvarez, Enzo Fernández

Subs: Paredes, Pezzella, Walter Benítez, Musso, Exequiel Palacios, Gonzalo Montiel, Martinez, Balerdi, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, Facundo Buonanotte, Julio Soler

Bolivia XI: José Sagredo, Guillermo Viscarra, Carmelo Algarañaz, Luis Haquín, Ramiro Vaca, Roberto Fernández, Gabriel Villamíl, Marcelo Suárez, Daniel Medina, Miguelito, Robson Matheus

Subs: Daniel Camacho, Bruno Miranda, Adalid Terrazas, Alejandro Torrez, José Martínes, Víctor Cuellar, Sebastián Álvarez, Lucas Chávez, Bruno Poveda, Luis Paz, Marcelo Torrez, Enzo Monteiro