BUENOS AIRES (AP) — A hat trick and two assists: Lionel Messi returned in style for Argentina in a 6-0 home win in a South American World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Messi, who missed two rounds of competition in October due to a right ankle injuryplayed from start to finish on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

Arch-rivals Brazil, whose coach Dorival Júnior was under pressure earlier this month, got some relief with a convincing performance in a 4-0 home win against Peru.

Argentina remained top of the round-robin competition with 22 points after ten games, three points ahead of second-place Colombia, who earlier defeated Chile 4-0. Uruguay, who previously had a goalless draw against Ecuador, and Brazil follow with 16 points.

The Uruguayans are in third place on goal difference.

Ecuador and Paraguay follow, with 13 points each, but the Ecuadorians still have one more win to take fifth position.

The top six teams in the region will automatically get a spot in the next World Cup. The seventh-place team, currently Bolivia, will play in an international play-off for a spot in the 2026 tournament.

Two more rounds of the South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November.

Messi in strong form on return

Messi’s first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed the 37-year-old Messi to run free and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra. Messi assisted Lautaro Martínez’s goal in the 42nd minute and made another decisive pass to Julián Álvarez’s goal in extra time.

Argentina seemed to slow the pace after the break, but scored again in the 69th minute with Thiago Almada. The striker scored from close range after a low cross from Nahuel Molina.

Messi’s display featured two great finishing touches from the edge of the penalty area, the first in the 84th and the second in the 86th minute.

“We enjoyed this, we are happy to play here in Argentina,” said Messi, who again declined to say whether he will play at the next World Cup in 2026. “This could be one of the last (matches for the Argentinian public).”

Bolivia, which wants to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in thirty years, remains in contention with twelve points.

Brazil appears again under Júnior

This month’s South American qualifying rounds were important for coach Dorival Júnior. His team was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the last Copa America and had to face rivals it previously defeated easily, such as Paraguay and Venezuela.

Júnior’s chances of success looked low in games against Chile and Peru due to injuries to several of his starters; goalkeeper Alisson, defender Éder Militão and striker Vinicius Júnior were all out. But a last-minute win against the Chileans and a convincing performance against the Peruvians will provide some relief for the Brazilian coach.

Raphinha scored twice from the spot to put Brazil ahead in Brasilia, the first in the 38th minute and the second in the 54th.

Substitute Andreas Pereira left more than 60,000 fans gasping at the National Stadium when he scored with a volley in the 71st minute. Another substitute, Luiz Henrique, scored for the second consecutive game for the national team with a classy shot from the edge of the penalty area.

“These were two games that we controlled well,” said Raphinha. “We are far from perfection, but we are on the right track.”

Chile in last place

Chile’s loss to Colombia puts national coach Ricardo Gareca’s job in jeopardy. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.

Paraguay defeated Venezuela 2–1 and reached a qualifying position in the rankings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came off the bench to win the match for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.

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Savarese reported from Sao Paulo

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