Messi eclipses Pele as leading goal scorer

On Sep 10, 2021

Lionel Messi has overtaken Pele as the leading South American Men’s goal scorer in international matches with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier win against Bolivia on Thursday.

Scoring all the goals in the 3-0 win in Buenos Aires brought Messi’s total for Argentina to 79 in 153 games. Brazil legend Pele finished his career with 77 international goals in 92 games.

Messi’s 14th-minute goal from outside the box put him level with Pele and he broke the record in the second half. The 34-year-old dribbled past a defender for his second goal before completing a hat-trick from a rebound two minutes before full time.

After the match, Argentina Captain Messi and his teammates celebrated with the Copa America Trophy in front of 20,000 fans at the Monumental Stadium.

He led the side to that title, his first major trophy in international football, in July, beating Brazil in the final. (BBC)