In a low-key friendly match against Curacao on Tuesday, Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal in international play for the defending world champions.
Seven-time Awarded the Ballon d'Or On the 20th minute of the friendly match in Santiago del Estero against the Caribbean island minnows, Messi scored the game's first goal.
After 30 minutes, the 35-year-old quickly added a third to make it 3-0, and on 37 minutes, he scored his fifth goal to give Argentina a hat-trick as they played around with their outclassed opponents.
Not only did Messi enter the game as his nation's all-time leading scorer, but he also had more goals than the next two scorers combined, Gabriel Batistuta and Sergio Aguero, who each had 56 and 41 goals, respectively.
It was always going to be about Messi scoring 100 goals in Argentina's second game following their dramatic World Cup victory over France in Qatar in December. Argentina won 4-2 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw.
When he scored the Albiceleste's 99th goal against Panama on Thursday of last week, Argentina was struggling in their homecoming celebration game.
The 78th minute saw the Central Americans hold on until 21-year-old MLS phenom Thiago Almada broke their resistance.
Then, with one minute remaining, Messi converted a free kick in front of 83,000 jubilant supporters in Buenos Aires.
Messi received a pass from Giovanni Lo Ceslo, cut inside his defender on his weaker right foot, and struck a low effort into the bottom corner after Curacao could only hold out for 20 minutes.
The ball was then seen being thrown by the referee live on television to a spectator on the side of the field, with DirecTV announcers speculating that it was going "straight to the museum."
Nicolas Gonzalez headed in from four yards after jumping over goalkeeper Eloy Room three minutes later.
Gonzalez changed roles as Messi used his left foot to score the first of three goals in four minutes.
He then passed the ball to Enzo Fernandez, who made it four with a long-range shot, before releasing Messi behind the defense to complete his hat trick.
(AFP)
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