Lionel Messi breaks Pele’s South American international goals record with a 3-0 victory over Bolivia
Lionel Messi and his teammate Rodrigo De Paul hold the Copa America trophy. AP
Gulf Today Report
Soccer maestro Lionel Messi has broken the footy legend Pele’s record for most goals by a South American footballer on international level.
The Argentine star achieved the feat with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Thursday night.
The star nicknamed “La Pulga” that translate “the flea” scored all the goals in the 3-0 defeat of Bolivia in their home turf at Buenos Aires.
This mean has 79 goals for Argentina, taking him past Pele’s haul for Brazil of 77.
Messi equaled Pele when he scored the match’s first goal in the 14th minute with a shot from outside the box in front of a massive crowd at the Monumental Stadium.
It was in the 64th minute, Leo broke the record by dribbling past a defender for his second goal.
He finished in style with a third from a rebound two minutes from the end.
The 34-year-old star who recently moved Paris Saint-Germain celebrated after the match with the Copa America trophy.
It was Messi who led Argentina to their first major title in July with a victory over Brazil in the final.
Messi’s PSG teammate and close friend Neymar sits third on the South American list with 68 goals.
