Lionel Messi Makes History by Scoring 100th International Goal

On Tuesday in Santiago del Estero, Lionel Messi proved to the world why he’s considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time by scoring a hat trick and surpassing the 100-goal landmark in Argentina’s friendly match against Curacao. This achievement makes him just the third male player in history to reach this milestone, following Cristiano Ronaldo and retired Iranian superstar Ali Daei.

Messi accomplished this feat by netting two fantastic goals before half-time and adding another one on the counter-attack, bringing his total international goals to 102 in 174 appearances for his country. Additionally, he passed the 800-goal mark in his career, making him among the most prolific scorers in history.

As a result of this accomplishment, the Paris Saint-Germain forward is now the first South American male player to reach the 100-goal mark and second South American overall, behind Brazil’s Marta, who has 109 goals for her country.

Messi’s impressive international record includes 46 goals in friendlies, 28 in World Cup qualifiers, 13 in the Copa America, and 13 in World Cup competitions. His 2018 hat trick against Ecuador secured Argentina’s passage to the World Cup, and his two goals in the 2022 World Cup final against France attest to his enormous influence on the sport.

This record-breaking achievement is a testament to Messi’s enduring greatness and his ability to achieve milestones that few others have accomplished. It’s a historic moment that soccer fans will remember for years to come.