Lionel Messi once again proved his worth as one of the greatest footballers of all time in Argentina’s dominating 6-0 victory over Curacao. The match was played in Willemstad, Curacao, and saw Messi deliver an outstanding performance, including a first-half hat trick, to lead his team to victory.
The game got off to a slow start, with Curacao holding their own for the first 20 minutes. However, once Messi scored the opening goal, there was no looking back for Argentina. The floodgates opened, and the team quickly added to their lead with a second goal from Gonzalez. Messi then scored his second goal of the game with a trademark bending shot from his left foot. He then set up his teammate, Fernandez, for a powerful strike from a distance to make it 4-0.
Messi wasn’t done yet, as he completed his first-half hat trick by running onto a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the Curacao defense from Giovani Lo Celso and rolling his shot past the helpless Curacao goalkeeper, Eloy Room.
The second half saw Argentina take their foot off the gas, but they still managed to add to their lead. Angel Di Maria converted a penalty in the 78th minute, and Gonzalo Montiel scored a close-range strike to seal the deal for Argentina.
The win was another milestone for Messi, who had already surpassed the 800-goal mark for club and country in their previous match against Panama. The victory also saw the Argentine team receive tributes from the home crowd, with fans applauding Lionel Scaloni and his team for their impressive performance.
Looking ahead, Argentina will regroup in June for another international break with an eye on the start of CONMEBOL qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in September. With Messi in top form, the team will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with as they continue their quest for football glory.
Argentina’s dominant performance against Curacao was a testament to the team’s attacking prowess, with Messi leading the way. The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s performance was exceptional, with his first-half hat trick taking his tally to 79 international goals, making him the all-time leading scorer in South American football history.
But Messi was not the only standout performer for Argentina. The team’s attacking quartet of Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Alejandro Gomez, and Nicolas Gonzalez were relentless in their pursuit of goals, making life difficult for the Curacao defense throughout the match.
Gonzalez, in particular, was impressive, scoring Argentina’s second goal from close range after a scramble in front of Curacao’s goal. He also set up Messi for his third goal with a clever pass over the top of the Curacao defense.
Defensively, Argentina was solid, with goalkeeper Franco Armani making some crucial saves to deny Curacao any chance of a comeback. The team’s midfield, led by Rodrigo De Paul, also did an excellent job of controlling the tempo of the game and providing the attacking players with ample opportunities to score.
The win was Argentina’s second in a row, and they will be looking to build on their momentum in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. With Messi in scintillating form and the team playing with confidence, they will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Source: https://www.espn.in/football/report/_/gameId/666851