Thu Oct 17 04:42:49 UTC 2024: ## Messi Shines as Argentina Crushes Bolivia 6-0 in World Cup Qualifiers
Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, expressed immense satisfaction following his team’s dominant 6-0 victory over Bolivia in the South American World Cup Qualifiers for 2026. The win was highlighted by a stellar performance from Lionel Messi, who bagged a hat-trick and contributed two assists.
“I just want him to play as long as he can,” Scaloni said about Messi, who returned to the national team after a near year-long absence. “It’s a pleasure to watch him and have him on the pitch. He never stops surprising us.”
Scaloni also praised the performance of young midfielder Nicolás Paz, who hails from Real Madrid and was born in Spain to Argentine parents. “He’s very good,” Scaloni said about Paz. “He links up well, he’s strong, tall, and has great vision. He has a lot to offer the national team.”
The manager emphasized the impact of younger players pushing for starting positions, saying it keeps the established stars sharp. “They know that if they give a teammate a chance, they might lose their spot,” Scaloni explained.
Argentina remains firmly at the top of the South American World Cup Qualifiers table, amassing 22 points from 10 games. This victory cemented their lead over second-placed Colombia by a comfortable three points.
First Piper 