It is no longer new to us that Lionel Messi is known for his football prowess and expertise in the field of football. However, as we enter a new season, there is no doubt that Messi really needs to step up his game. He has once again proven that he is not someone to underestimate as the recently concluded match of Argentina and Bolivia led to a 6-0 advantage in favor of Argentina. With Messi being on the frontline of this triumph, he successfully attained his 10th international hat trick which left fans in awe. With this, he tied with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo on the title of the most number of hat tricks, both Cristiano and Messi’s fandom have been debating about who is the greatest superstar. From here, we could already see a slight foreshadowing that the rivalry between the two will be more intensified. If you want to know more about this, follow NowGoal now.

The Match in Buenos Aires

The recently concluded match between Argentina and Bolivia took place at the famous Monument Stadium in Buenos Aires. This stadium isn’t new to football anymore as it hosted a number of matches before, especially in the side of Argentina. However, this one game is different, as it would unknowingly mark a significant event in history, as Messi boldly advances his tactics and pushes himself to the full of his potential, a history was truly made in this round shaped stadium, you may rewatch the match in NowGoal.

It could be remembered that last July, Messi suffered a severe injury which took place during the Copa Americana. Because of this, he only made two appearances on the national team so far. Given the circumstances, it was quite expected for him to approach the game conservatively and slower than his usual pace. To the audience’s surprise, Messi’s performance was no joke time as he gave his full capacity throughout the game. In fact, he has even surpassed his usual speed as his first goal came into the first 19minutes of the game, it seems like his eagerness to win grew while he was recovering. His quick and swift movements were truly astonishing to watch. While Bolivia was capitalizing a defensive error, he took the opportunity to kick the ball at the very back of the net, earning Argentina its very first goal which set the tone and mood for the rest of the match.

While scoring alone is already impressive on its own, Messi didn’t just stop there– he became a threat to his opponents as he has been constantly taking attacks and has provided his teammates with a lot of chances. During the game, Lautaro Martinez, who is Messi’s assist, and Julian Alvarez also stepped up. Looking back, Messi truly demonstrated the attitude of being a leader and a follower at the same time, the circumstances at the game would have given him a lot of opportunities to play for himself and earn more goals so he could take the credits all to himself, however, he chose to step up as a leader and helped his teammates have the equal opportunity to play as well. His ability to collaborate and give importance to the younger stars who are just beginning to make a name for themselves is truly one of the reasons why the team made such an impression and a reputation in football, hear more about his sentiments about this in NowGoal.

Messi’s Deep Connection with Argentina

More than just what had happened in the four corners of the football field, fans appreciated how Messi reflected in his post match statement, recognizing his team and his fans for his success. At the end of the match, Messi expressed how much re treasures every moment that he spends in the field, playing for his fans and for his country, he really showed how grateful he was and what it meant for him to be able to play in front of the crowd who truly supports and love him. "It's really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name," Messi stated in his post-match interview. From this, we can draw how much Messi gives importance to his fans and to all the people who support and love him, he and his team posits a strong connection, a bond that has been bound by time and is only growing stronger, resulting in good matches bearing out its stems.

What to Expect From Argentina in the 2026 World Cup

Because of their recent victory against Bolivia, Argentina is now at the top of the hierarchy as their rank rose to the top of the South American World Cup qualifying teams. They are currently holding a three point advantage from Colombia. Despite the recent struggles that the team have faced in the beginning of the season, they still managed to get through it and give their fans a good fight to talk about.

With the management of coach Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina have been as speedy on its progress, what made them more of a threat is the fact that a number of veteran footballers like Messi, Andel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi is taking the lead of the match and have truly exemplified their expertise in the game, throughout their years of experiences. Meanwhile rising stars such as Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez have also made a detrimental impact on the victory of Argentina, with both veterans and youngsters working together to create a more inclusive and diverse football team, Argentina not only steps up their game but also creates a space for inclusivity. Looking ahead, the World Cup title in 2026 is rising and the rivalry between teams is just starting to heat up, but with Messi back in Argentina, there is no doubt that they will slay the game and prove their right to the title in no time. Find more similar stories like this in NowGoal.