SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina –
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and crossed the 100-goal mark of his career for Argentina with three goals in the first half of Tuesday’s international friendly against Curacao. The World Cup winners beat the Caribbean side 7-0 in their second game since winning the cup in December.
Messi, 35, opened the scoring against Curacao in the 20th minute with a right-footed shot from outside the box to hit the 100-goal mark. Nico Gonzalez scored three more minutes later with a header from close range.
Messi then scored his 101st goal for Argentina in the 33rd minute with a cross to the right of the keeper and his 102nd goal in the 37th minute after an easy run to score. Two minutes earlier, he had set up Enzo Fernandez from the edge of the box.
The Argentina captain is only two players behind in the list of highest goalscorers for national teams in official matches; Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal with 122 and Ali Daei of Iran with 109.
