The Argentine star reached 102 victories with the shirt of his country, in the friendly vs. Curaçao. (AFP)
The Argentine team extended its ‘tour’ of world champion with a categorical 7-0 victory over Curaçao, in a friendly match played this Thursday in Santiago del Estero, with a triplet of a centenary Lionel Messi.
Messi (20, 33 and 37 minutes), Nicholas Gonzalez (23′), Enzo Fernandez (3. 4), angel di maria penalty (78 ‘) and Gonzalo Montiel (86′) converted the goals for the comfortable victory for the albiceleste, in another festive day for winning the World Cup in front of the Argentine public, in this case the 42,000 spectators who packed the Madre de Ciudades stadium.
The other novelty of the night was in charge of Messi, who surpassed one hundred goals and with his hat-trick reached 102 celebrations with his national jacket, becoming the first Argentine to reach three figures as a gunner.
Messi, who made his debut for the South American team in 2005, already held the record as Argentina’s top scorerwell ahead of those who follow him, such as Gabriel Batistuta (54 goals) and Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero (42).
In case you haven’t seen them yet, here they go: Lionel Messi’s THREE GOALS vs. Curaçao.
The 100, 101 and 102 with the Selection @Argentina ?? pic.twitter.com/muSR7cMJFW
– Fox Sports Argentina (@FOXSportsArg) March 29, 2023
A walk
As soon as the match began, Argentina came close to taking the lead, with an assist from Messi for Lautaro Martínez, but the Inter striker got incredibly tangled when he was in front of the empty goal and could not define.
It didn’t take long for the world champion to display enormous superiority over the weak Antillean team, whose resistance collapsed after 20 minutes, when Pezzella stole the ball at the away start and gave it to Giovani Lo Celso, who quickly assisted ‘Leo’ , who settled inside the area and shouted his goal 100 with a right hand that beat goalkeeper Eloy Room.
The opening of the result detonated in an Argentine gale that brought down the tepid Curaçao defense with a flurry of goals and a fiery Messi, to score five in just 17 minutes.
The second goal for the Albiceleste came after a cross from Lo Celso that he followed with a failed clearance, the goalkeeper delayed in the air, and Nicolás González jumped to push the ball into the net from the heights.
Shortly after Messi scored his goal 101 with the light blue and white with a crossed left foot, and just a minute later he assisted Enzo Fernández, who shook the goal with a powerful shot, and when Curaçao stepped into the local area to look for discount, the Rosario scored the fifth, with his left foot and after a quick counterattack.
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There was still the entire second half ahead, and Argentina dominated what remained at will against a willful opponent, in a kind of training session with the public, the difference between the world champion and a rival that is around 90th place in the FIFA ranking was too much. .
Ángel Di María, another of Qatar’s heroes, added the sixth goal, which he scored with a penalty that this time Messi declined to take and preferred to give it to the Rosario winger, and shortly after Montiel stretched his advantages, with a strong shot that beat the hands of Room.
As happened last Thursday against Panama (2-0) at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina paraded its World Cup glory with another friendly with a festive aroma, without wanting to part with immense joy, with a team -and millions of fans- who enjoy unforgettable moments since that Sunday in December at the Lusail Stadium.
