Magical Messi nets new milestone

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Argentina — Lionel Messi on Tuesday scored his 100th international goal for Argentina as the reigning world champion romped to a 7-0 friendly win over outclassed Curacao.

Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi opened the scoring against the Caribbean island minnow in the 20th minute in Santiago del Estero.

It came 17 years after he opened his Argentina account in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in March 2006.

The 35-year-old soon added another just after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0, and then completed his hat-trick on 37 minutes with the fifth as Argentina toyed with its opponent.

"We will never stop celebrating and I think it's fair and deserved," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters.

"I hope there will be more (Messi goals). He deserves all the praise and it's good that these goals were on Argentine soil. That has a special value too."

"You cannot describe Messi in words," said fellow scorer Nicolas Gonzalez.

"He's the best in the world and he shows it match after match, day after day. Every time he touches the ball, he makes you smile."

Messi came into the game not just as his country's all-time record scorer, but with more goals than the next two top marksmen — Gabriel Batistuta on 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 — put together.

This was Argentina's second match since winning the World Cup in dramatic style against France in Qatar in December — triumphing 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw — and it was always going to be about Messi reaching 100 goals.

Now with 102, he remains third in the all-time list, behind great rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122), and Iran's Ali Daei (109), who retired in 2007.

Ronaldo reached his century of goals in September 2020, with the 38-year-old netting four times in Portugal's first two Euro 2024 qualifying games over the last week.

Almost half (46) of Messi's goals have come in international friendlies. The Paris Saint-Germain forward has scored 28 goals in World Cup qualifiers, including a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Ecuador in October 2017 that secured Argentina's spot at the 2018 World Cup.

His most important goals for his country, of course, came in the World Cup final in December, when Messi netted twice to ultimately inspire Argentina to glory in the shootout victory over Les Bleus.

Records pile up

Tuesday's century was the latest milestone of the superstar's glittering career, during which he has won almost every major trophy, including four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga crowns, the Copa America and, after four failed attempts, the World Cup last year. The only major competition Messi has played in but failed to win is the French Cup.

Messi amassed 35 trophies with Barcelona to make him the most-decorated player in the club's history. He is also Barca's all-time top scorer (672), and holds the record for most goals (474) and most assists (192) in La Liga.

There is not much more for Messi to achieve in the game, but provided he stays fit, he should reach the 900-appearance mark at club level and can score in his 20th consecutive top-flight season.

He is already Argentina's most-capped player (173), well ahead of the second man on that list, Batistuta (78).

'Straight to museum'

Messi came up short on Thursday last week when he notched his 99th goal for the Albiceleste in their homecoming celebration match against Panama.

The Central Americans shut out Argentina until the 78th minute, when 21-year-old Major League Soccer sensation Thiago Almada broke their resistance.

Messi then scored direct from a freekick in the dying moments — his 800th goal in professional soccer — in front of 83,000 delirious fans in Buenos Aires.

Curacao, ranked 86th by FIFA, could only hold out for 20 minutes before Messi took a pass from Giovanni Lo Celso, cut inside his marker onto his weaker right foot and fired low into the bottom corner.

The referee was then seen on live television throwing the ball to someone on the side of the pitch as DirecTV commentators speculated that it was heading "straight to the museum".

Three minutes later Gonzalez out-jumped goalkeeper Eloy Room to head home from close range.

Gonzalez turned provider as Messi scored again, this time with his left foot.

He then laid off the ball for Enzo Fernandez to make it four with a shot from distance before Lo Celso released Messi behind the defense to notch his treble.

Argentina took its foot off the gas in the second half, with only a generously awarded Angel Di Maria penalty and close-range finish from Gonzalo Montiel adding to the score.

But the 42,000 fans present at the stadium in northern Argentina remained in party mood throughout, waiting for their heroes to lift a replica of the World Cup trophy in front of them.

Agencies