Lionel Messi has taken his tally to 79 goals in 153 appearances. The Argentine scored all three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Bolivia in the South American Zone qualifiers for the 2022™ FIFA World Cup Qatar. With this achievement, he became the top South American scorer for the national team.
Messi now totals 79 goals and is ahead of Brazil’s Pele, who had scored 77. In addition, La Pulga has also overtaken Luis Suarez as the top scorer in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers with 26 goals.
Recalling his successful debut on the world stage when for his first steps in the FIFA™ World Cup, Messi came on in the 76th minute against Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006. After three minutes he served Hernan Crespo on a plate and ten minutes later he scored in turn to seal a 6-0 victory, Argentina’s largest in the competition (tied).
Only Brazilian stars Marta (109) and Cristiane (96) have scored more international goals than the Argentinian icon, who is now the continent’s top male scorer.
