Lionel Messi scored a historic hat-trick as world champions Argentina cruised to a 6-0 win over Bolivia in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 37-year-old impressively demonstrated his consistent quality with three deft finishes, two assists and some of his trademark creativity throughout the game as Lionel Scaloni's side dominated. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez was outwitted by Lautaro Martinez, who sent Messi clear and deftly fired it into the bottom corner.

The home crowd at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium was back on its feet in the 43rd minute when Julian Alvarez played a brilliant pass to Messi, who selflessly passed the ball to Martinez and finished.

Three minutes later, Alvarez himself was on goal when Bolivia were caught sleeping on a free kick, Messi hammered the ball over the goal line and the Atlético Madrid striker fired the ball into the goal.

After the break, Nicolas Otamendi's header was ruled out for offside, but the home fans didn't have to wait long for their fourth goal as Thiago Almada side-footed home after a great pull-back from Nahuel Molina

A classic Messi goal made it 5-0 in the 84th minute – the Inter Miami striker dribbled centrally, then switched from his left foot to his right and buried the ball in the bottom corner.

Estas enfermo Messi
Estas enfermo Enano

What do you think about your whereabouts in our family? Rivets?

Messi
Messi
Messi

Y cuando no Messi
Te Amamos Messi

BASTA PARA MI
BASTA PARA TODOS

GOOD NIGHT

Argentina 6 vs #Bolivia 0 #Eliminatorias2026 pic.twitter.com/aYQ7cFN64x

— Argentinos Somos (@ArgentinoSomos) October 16, 2024

Two minutes later, some fans burst into tears when Messi came inside from the right, played a clever Wall pass to substitute Nico Paz and once again placed the ball out of the reach of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.

Argentina sit at the top of the 10-team table with 22 points from 10 games – three points ahead of second-placed Colombia, who also enjoyed a fine victory with a 4-0 win over Chile in Barranquilla.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL HAT-HAT TRICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

pic.twitter.com/YDiOvyhlJV

— Messi World (@M10GOAT) October 16, 2024

– Colombians empty Chile –

The team had a different look, wearing a special retro white jersey with the colors of the national flag in a ring to mark the 100th anniversary of the Colombian Football Federation.

It was a dashing design and the performance from Nestor Lorenzo's side was equally stylish as they picked apart a woeful Chile side that remains rooted to bottom of the 10-team qualifying group.

Defender Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring in the 34th minute after Jhon Lucumi headed home James Rodriguez's corner.

Jhon Cordoba fired a cross from Diaz into the goal in the 45th minute, but the attempt was ruled out due to Diaz being offside.

Chile gave the Colombians a second goal seven minutes after the break when they tried to play the ball out from the back and Benjamin Kusevic passed the ball to Rodriguez, who passed the ball to Liverpool winger Luis Diaz for conversion.

Substitute Jhon Duran made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute after he once again, this time in midfield, allowed Sinisterra a breakthrough and then fed the Aston Villa striker, who made no mistake and then Sinisterra scored in stoppage time Victory secured.

Paraguay boosted their chances of securing one of the six automatic qualification places after substitute Antonio Sanabria scored twice in a 2-1 win over Venezuela.

Full-back Jon Aramburu gave Venezuela the lead in the 25th minute, bursting down the right and receiving a pass from Yeferson Soteldo, which he buried in the bottom corner.

Torino striker Sanabria came on at half-time and equalized for sixth-placed Paraguay when he slid in from Junior Alonso's low cross.

In the 74th minute, Sanabria scored the winning goal, carried out a counterattack, then got into the penalty area and finished the move with a header from close range.

Uruguay and Ecuador played to a goalless draw and Brazil played Peru later on Tuesday.