ReutersLionel Messi
NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 07:09
In the battle for qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina has pulled out a big punch against Bolivia. Partly thanks to a hat trick and two assists from the returning Lionel Messi, the Argentinians won 6-0 in Buenos Aires.
It was only Messi’s second international match since being injured during the Copa America in July, which Argentina won. Last week he made his return to the national team in the 1-1 draw against Venezuela.
Against Bolivia, Messi once again made an old-fashioned appearance. In the nineteenth minute he punished a mistake by defender Marcelo Suarez to make it 1-0.
Messi then enabled Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez to make it 2-0 and 3-0. Substitute Thiago Almada further lifted the score to 4-0, after which Messi scored the last two goals of the evening.
AFPLautaro Martinez thanks Lionel Messi for the assist
World champion Argentina is at the top of the South American group with 22 points, followed by Colombia at three points.
Brazil well past Peru
Brazil also won convincingly. The score was 4-0 against Peru thanks to two penalty kicks from Raphinha and goals from Andreas Pereira and Luiz Henrique.
AFPRaphinha celebrates one of his goals against Peru
The Brazilians are in fourth place in the rankings with 16 points from 10 games. The first six from the group can go to the World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The number seven in the final ranking may participate in the play-off tournament, where six countries will compete for two tickets.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Standings
Messi’s Marvelous Comeback: Argentina Dominates Bolivia
Well, ladies and gentlemen, gather round, grab your popcorn, and put on those oversized foam fingers because Lionel Messi is back, and he’s got more tricks up his sleeve than a magician at a kid’s birthday party! In a sensational performance, Argentina laid the smackdown on Bolivia with a **6-0 victory** in Buenos Aires, led by none other than the football wizard himself, who decided he’d fancied a little hat trick and two assists to top it off. Can someone get this man a cape?
Messi’s return to the national team: After recovering from an injury that kept him out of action since the Copa America triumph in July, all eyes were on Leo to see if he could regain his scoring touch. And oh boy, he didn’t just regain it; he made it his best friend again! Last week, he had a quieter return against Venezuela, but against Bolivia? He was like a lion unleashed in Narnia!
Match Highlights: A Symphony of Goals
The match started off like an opening act at a rock concert, with Messi punishing a defensive slip by Marcelo Suarez in just the nineteenth minute. Just like that, Argentina was **1-0** up! Messi then played the role of the ultimate team player, setting up both Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez in a dazzling display of assists that made even your average Sunday league player weep with envy. By the time Thiago Almada scored to make it **4-0**, the crowd must have thought they were watching a magic show: “Now you see it, now you don’t – the Bolivian defense!”
As if that wasn’t enough, Messi decided to punctuate the evening with two dazzling solo goals, solidifying his claim as Argentina’s superhero (cape optional). One can imagine he’s living out the childhood dream we all had: “When I grow up, I want to be a football god!” He’s almost there, folks!
Argentina’s Position: Number One! (In a Good Way)
With this win, **Argentina sits comfortably at the top of the South American group** with 22 points. Meanwhile, Colombia trails behind like a kid trying to catch up to the ice cream truck at 19 points. It’s like a sprint where one guy is casually jogging in a tutu while the rest are huffing and puffing trying to keep breath!
In other news, Brazil also had a day out, beating Peru **4-0** with Raphinha scoring not one, but TWO penalty kicks. I mean, where were the Peruvian defenders? Taking a coffee break? Wishing they could call Messi for help?
World Cup 2026: The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, the first six teams from this qualifying round will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. That’s right, FIFA is expanding like my waistline after Christmas! And let’s not forget, the seventh place team can still dream, as they’ll have a shot in the playoff tournament, which is like getting an extra slice of pizza after a night of questionable decisions.
CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying Standings
| Position | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 22 |
| 2 | Colombia | 19 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 16 |
| 4 | Brazil | 16 |
| 5 | Ecuador | 13 |
| 6 | Paraguay | 13 |
| 7 | Bolivia | 12 |
| 8 | Venezuela | 11 |
| 9 | Peru | 6 |
| 10 | Chile | 5 |
So, as the world gears up for what promises to be a thrilling World Cup, fans can rest assured that as long as Messi is playing, there’s a good chance of turning those dreams into reality. Just remember: with Messi on the pitch, it feels less like a game of football and more like witnessing a live performance of Shakespeare where the only tragedy is that Bolivia couldn’t even defend a sneeze!
Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the world of football, and remember: never underestimate the power of a man with a mullet and a football!
