Lionel Messi made history by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s 6-0 win over Bolivia, tying Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 10 international hat-tricks ¹. This impressive feat came in a World Cup qualifier match on October 15, 2024, at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. Messi’s goals were scored in the 19th, 84th, and 86th minutes, with the Argentine legend also providing two assists in the dominant victory ¹.
Messi’s achievement is all the more remarkable considering this was only his second international appearance since recovering from an injury sustained during July’s Copa America tournament ¹. His 112th career goal for Argentina underscores his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
After the match, Messi hinted that these might be his final games, saying, “I know that these could be the last games” ¹. However, he emphasized his focus on enjoying the moment and contributing to Argentina’s success, rather than setting a specific retirement date.
