Lionel Messi, the Argentine captain and star, delivered a spectacular efficiency on Tuesday, scoring his a centesimal worldwide objective because the reigning world champions romped to a powerful 7-0 victory over Curacao.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi scored towards the Caribbean island minnows in 20 minutes in Santiago del Estero.
It got here 17 years after he opened his Argentina account in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in March 2006.
The 35-year-old quickly added one other simply after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0 after which accomplished his hattrick on 37 minutes with the fifth as Argentina toyed with their overmatched opponents.
It was his seventh hat trick for the nationwide staff.
“You cannot describe Messi in words,” stated fellow goalscorer 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 got here into the sport not simply as his nation’s report goalscorer however with extra targets than the following two high marksmen – Gabriel Batistuta with 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 – put collectively.
This was Argentina’s second match since successful the World Cup in dramatic model towards France in Qatar in December – triumphing 4-2 on penalties after an exciting 3-3 draw – and it was all the time going to be about Messi reaching 100 targets.
Now with 102, he stays third within the all-time checklist, behind nice rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Straight to the museum
Messi had come up brief on Thursday final week when he notched his 99th objective for the Albiceleste as Argentina toiled of their homecoming celebration match towards Panama.
The Central Americans had held out till the 78th minute earlier than 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada broke their resistance.
Messi then scored direct from a free kick a minute from time – his 800th objective in skilled soccer – in entrance of 83,000 delirious followers in Buenos Aires.
Curacao, ranked 86th by the world governing physique FIFA, may solely maintain out for 20 minutes earlier than Messi took a go from Giovanni Lo Celso, reduce inside his marker onto his weaker proper foot, and fired a low shot into the underside nook.
The referee was then seen on reside tv throwing the ball to somebody on the aspect of the pitch as DirecTV commentators speculated that it was heading “straight to the museum.”
Three minutes later, Gonzalez outjumped goalkeeper Eloy Room to go dwelling from 4 yards.
Gonzalez turned supplier as Messi scored the primary of three targets in 4 minutes, this time together with his left foot.
He then laid off the ball for Enzo Fernandez to make it 4 with a shot from a distance earlier than Lo Celso launched Messi behind the protection to notch his treble.
Argentina took their foot off the fuel within the second half, with solely a generously-awarded Angel Di Maria penalty and a close-range end from Gonzalo Montiel including to the rating.
But the 42,000 followers current remained in a celebration temper all through, ready for his or her heroes to raise the World Cup trophy in entrance of them.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
