Lionel Messi turned on the magic once again as he dramatically put on a show of why he will remain one of the greatest footballers to have ever played; scoring an incredible hat trick to give Argentina a comfortable 6-0 thrashing over Bolivia in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Tuesday evening. The 37-year-old superstar blasted at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, as his clinical finishing and creativity shaped Argentina’s other remarkable performance.
Messi’s Game-Changing Strikes
Messi got Argentina off the mark in the 19th minute when Marcelo Suarez of Bolivia made a defensive misjudgment which was capitalized on by Lautaro Martinez for Messi. Calm, cool and collected, Messi placed the ball perfectly into the bottom corner. On the eve of halftime, Messi did it again, this time setting up Martinez quite selflessly to score Argentina’s second goal following a sharp pass from Julian Alvarez. Shortly afterwards, Messi turned playmaker once again, this time chipping delicately to Alvarez who volleyed home to make it 3-0.
A Dominant Second Half and Messi’s Signature Style
Argentina totally dominated the second half. Thiago Almada scored his fourth and Messi added his two more to take his hat trick, including his signature dribbling and finishing style. His second of the evening was pure Messi: Inside from the left, he cut and shifted inside onto his right before sliding the ball into the bottom corner. Then, two minutes from the end, he finished it in fantastic style with a stunning combination move in which substitute Nico Paz was involved.
Messi’s Fitness Routine Keeps Him Going for Longer
Despite his advanced age of 37, Messi continues to demonstrate marvelous longevity. His presence of mind and agility are a result of heavy-duty workout routines, beginning with functional strength exercises, flexibility exercises, and an excellent diet. Most players break down after their mid-30s, but Messi has diligently upgraded his fitness routine over the years to ensure his body can last at its best, empowering him to be a decisive and dominating force at the elite level.
Argentina is now leading the qualification standings very comfortably and behind this phenomenon, the incredible Messi without any signs of wearing out keeps fans and teammates inspired.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye