Lionel Messi, who is currently the captain of Argentina’s national team, not only scored three goals but also provided two assists in the match.
This impressive performance marks Messi’s 10th international hat trick, putting him on par with his career rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also scored ten hat-tricks for Portugal’s national team.
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, are currently positioned favorably in the South American qualifiers, sitting three points ahead of second-placed Colombia and six points above arch-rivals Brazil.
This places them in a strong position to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup which is scheduled to take place in North America, across three countries – the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In contrast, Ronaldo had a frustrating night as Portugal played out a goalless draw against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League.
The star forward, who currently plays for the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, was visibly disappointed with the outcome of the game as he reportedly swore to the referee for ending the game when Portugal was about to take a corner kick.
