Wed Oct 16 18:15:01 UTC 2024: ## Messi Magic: Argentina Crush Bolivia, Superstar Hints at Possible Farewell
**Buenos Aires, Argentina** – Lionel Messi put on a masterclass performance, scoring a hat-trick and adding two assists as Argentina demolished Bolivia 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier match on Tuesday. The victory solidified Argentina’s position at the top of the South American standings.
The 37-year-old Messi, who had missed the previous two rounds due to an ankle injury, showed no signs of slowing down. He opened the scoring after a defensive error, before setting up Lautaro Martínez for Argentina’s second goal. Messi continued his brilliance in the second half, adding two more goals and assisting Julián Álvarez’s strike.
This was the first time Messi recorded multiple goals and assists in a single game for the national team. The hat-trick was his 10th, tying him with Cristiano Ronaldo for most career hat-tricks.
After the game, Messi expressed his deep gratitude for the fans and hinted at a possible retirement from international football. “It’s very nice to play here feeling the affection of the Argentina fans,” he said. “It makes me emotional to listen how they shout my name. I know these can be my last games.”
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni echoed the sentiment, highlighting Messi’s enduring impact on the team. “The only thing I ask of him is to keep playing as long as he can,” Scaloni said. “It’s a joy to watch him on the soccer field.”
The victory moved Argentina to 22 points, three ahead of Colombia in the South American World Cup qualifying table. With two rounds remaining in November, the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first expanded tournament with 48 teams, is on the horizon.
Messi’s future remains uncertain, but his performance against Bolivia was a stark reminder of his enduring brilliance and the possibility that his international career may be coming to a close.
First Piper 