Lionel Messi's outrageous hat-trick for Argentina against Bolivia helped him create more history even after equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's record.

Messi was at his absolute best as he powered Argentina to a commanding 6-0 victory over Bolivia in a 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match. The Argentine captain was unstoppable, scoring a hat-trick and delivering two assists in a game that helped him match Ronaldo’s record for the most international hat-tricks (10).

In addition to matching Ronaldo’s record, Messi made history by becoming the first player ever to score three hat-tricks in the South American World Cup qualifiers. He also became the third player in the competition’s history to score two hat-tricks against the same national team, Bolivia, joining the ranks of Brazilian legends Tostao (vs Venezuela) and Zico (vs Bolivia).

Messi's remarkable display also made him the first player to be involved in five goals in a South American World Cup qualifier since Bolivia’s Joaquín Botero, who achieved a similar feat in 2009 when he scored three goals and assisted three more in a 6-1 victory against Argentina. With this win, La Albiceleste remains firmly on course for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they stand atop the CONMEBOL standings, three points ahead of Colombia, who sit in second place, and six points clear of their fierce rivals, Brazil.

After this impressive performance on the international stage, Messi is set to return to his club duties with Inter Miami. Fans can expect to see him back in action this Saturday when Inter Miami takes on the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer (MLS) and his form with Argentina will undoubtedly be a boost to The Herons as they push for a strong finish to the league stage.