Lionel Messi starred with a hat-trick and two assists as powerhouse Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier. Arch-rivals Brazil, whose coach Dorival Junior was under pressure earlier this month, got some relief with a convincing performance in a 4-0 home win against Peru. Argentina remain top of the South American standings with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who earlier beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay, who had a goalless draw with Ecuador, and Brazil come next with 16 points.
Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick and provided two assists in a dominant 6-0 win over Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday (Oct 15), while Brazil dominated Peru 4-0.
Messi opened the scoring for the Albiceleste in the 19th minute at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Shortly before half-time, Lautaro Martinez increased the lead after a fine counter-attack from Argentina's own half, and Julian Alvarez made it 3-0 at half-time.
The goal avalanche continued after the break, with Thiago Almada scoring the fourth in the 69th minute. Shortly before the end, it was Messi again, who scored twice within two minutes.
The win puts the side back on track after two games without a win.
In Brasilia, Raphinha opened the scoring for the Selecao with two converted penalty kicks. Andreas Pereira scored the third in the 71st minute with a bicycle kick, before Luiz Henrique made it 4-0 three minutes later.
The win on matchday 10 means that Brazil remains in fourth place in the qualifying competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico with 16 points. The Albiceleste tops the South American group with 22 points.
The top six of 10 teams qualify directly for the marquee tournament, while the seventh-placed team has to go through the inter-confederation play-offs. Brazil will next face Venezuela in mid-November, while Argentina will play Paraguay.
