Lionel Messi hit a vintage hat-trick as world champions Argentina romped to a 6-0 win over Bolivia in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 37-year-old was an emphatic reminder of his enduring quality with three clinical finishes, two assists and some of his trademark creativity throughout 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 robbed by Lautaro Martinez, who deflected Messi and fired cleverly into the bottom corner.

The home crowd at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium were back on their feet in the 43rd minute when Julian Alvarez played a brilliant pass to Messi, who unselfishly turned the ball towards Martinez to finish.

Three minutes later, Alvarez himself was on target when Bolivia were caught napping on a free kick, Messi tapped the ball over the top and the Atletico Madrid striker slotted home.

After the break, Nicolas Otamendi’s header was ruled out for offside, but the home fans didn’t have to wait long for the fourth as Thiago Almada side-footed home after an excellent pull-back from Nahuel Molina.

A classic Messi goal made it 5-0 in the 84th: the Inter Miami forward dribbled centrally before switching from his left foot to his right and burying the ball in the bottom corner.

This is Messi
This is Enano

Is this where you are now? notos?

Messi
Messi
Messi

Y cuando no Messi
To Amamos Messi

BASTA PAR MI
BASTA PAR TODOS

BUENAS NOCHES

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

— Argentine Somos (@ArgentinoSomos) October 16, 2024

Two minutes later, some fans were in tears after Messi cut in from the right, played a clever wall pass to substitute Nico Paz and once again put the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.

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

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL HAT hat trickKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

pic.twitter.com/YDiOvyhlJV

— Messi World (@M10GOAT) October 16, 2024

– Colombians ignore Chile –

The team looked different: it wore a special retro white kit on the occasion of the centenary of the Colombian Football Federation, with the colors of the national flag in a hoop.

It was a rollicking draft and the performance from Nestor Lorenzo’s team was equally stylish as they dismantled a woeful Chile team still bottom in the ten-team qualifying group.

Defender Davinson Sánchez opened the scoring in the 34th minute, nodding home after Jhon Lucumi headed James Rodriguez’s corner towards goal.

Jhon Cordoba scored from Diaz’s cross in the 45th minute, but the attempt was disallowed for offside against Diaz.

Chile gifted the Colombians a second seven minutes after the break when they tried to play the ball out from the back and Benjamin Kusevic gave the ball away to Rodriguez, who Liverpool winger Luis Diaz converted to convert.

Substitute Jhon Duran made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute after another win, this time in midfield, allowing Sinisterra to break and then feed the Aston Villa striker, who made no mistake, and Sinisterra went on to wrap up the win injury time.

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

Fullback Jon Aramburu put Venezuela ahead in the 25th minute, bursting down the right and collecting a pass from Yeferson Soteldo which he buried in the bottom corner.

Torino striker Sanabria was introduced at the break and he put Paraguay into sixth place when he slid in and met Junior Alonso’s low cross.

Sanabria then grabbed the winner in the 74th minute, leading a counter-attack before stepping into the penalty area and finishing the move with a close-range header.

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