Lionel Messi scored his 100th international goal

The joy of FIFA World Cup success reignites for Argentina, with Lionel Messi scoring his 100th international goal in Curacao.

According to international media reports, 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 scored for the hosts. The lead was further extended before the break.

World Cup hero Lionel Messi reached the milestone after reaching 800 goals for club and country in a 2-0 win over Panama in the previous match.

The first 20 minutes of Tuesday’s game were tough 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 win three minutes from full-time.

Tributes were paid to Argentina and their coach Lionel Scaloni, who said they would “never stop celebrating”.

He said, “I hope there will be more (Messi’s goals), he deserves all the accolades and it’s good that these goals were scored on Argentine soil, it also has a special significance.”