The joy of FIFA World Cup success reignited for Argentina as the world champions eased to a 7-0 friendly victory over Curacao in another night to remember for Lionel Messi.
It was a goal-fest for Argentina as the Paris Saint-Germain star scored a clinical first-half hat-trick to take the team to 100 goals, while Nicolas Gonzalez doubled the hosts’ lead and Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead of the host team. Box before the break.
The World Cup hero reached the milestone after another milestone of reaching 800 goals for club and country in the previous match against Panama, a 2-0 win.
The first 20 minutes of Tuesday’s game were tough for the winners as Curacao put up a good fight until Messi scored the first goal. Nicolás González doubled the hosts’ lead shortly after with a header over Curacao keeper Aloy Rome before Messi added his second in the 33rd minute with a trademark curling shot at the far post.
Messi then set up Enzo Fernandez from the edge of the box to score Argentina’s fourth goal and just two minutes later, the 35-year-old completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute after another pass from Lo Celso. Completed. .
In the 78th minute, as the hosts looked content to finish the game quickly, substitute Angel Di Maria got on the scoreboard from the penalty spot and Gonzalo Montiel sealed the deal three minutes from full time.
Tributes and praise poured in for the Argentines and their coach Lionel Scaloni, who said he would “never stop celebrating”.
“I hope there will be more (Messi’s goals), they deserve all the praise and it’s good that these goals were scored on Argentine soil, it also has a special significance,” he added.
