Lionel Messi surpasses 100 goals for Argentina with a first-half hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Curacao

Lionel Messi surpassed 100 career goals for Argentina with a hat-trick in the first half of the World Cup champions’ 7-0 victory over Curacao on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old Messi opened the scoring in the international friendly match against the Caribbean national team in the 20th minute with a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area to reach the 100th mark.

He added No. 101 for Argentina, with a cross shot to the right of the goalkeeper, and No. 102, after an easy run to score. Argentina were leading Curaçao 5-0 at halftime, and Nico Gonzalez and Enzo Fernandez also put their names on the scoreboard.

The captain of the Argentine national team only tracks two players in the list of the most goals scored for national teams in official matches; Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (122) and Iranian Ali Daei (109).

The friendly match in Santiago del Estero is Argentina’s second since winning the World Cup title in December. Messi’s team beat Panama 2-0 in Buenos Aires last week.

More to track.