Lionel Messi spoke after Argentina’s win against Bolivia and the support he gets from the fans.
Messi scored three goals and had two assists for Argentina in the 6-0 win against Bolivia, leading the South American World Cup qualifying charts. The fans at the Monumental stadium chanted his name and gave him a standing ovation. Speaking to the media after the match, here is what Messi had to say:
“It’s really nice to come here, to feel the affection of the people. It moves me how they shout my name.
“I haven’t set any date or deadline regarding my future, I just want to enjoy all of this. It moves me more than ever to be here and feel the love of the people because I know these could be my last matches.
“This drives me. Enjoying being happy where I am. Despite my age, when I’m here, I feel like a kid because I’m comfortable with this team. As long as I feel good and can keep performing the way I want, we’ll keep enjoying it.”
Lionel Messi would score a hat trick and Argentina would win 6-0 vs. Bolivia.
Messi scored his first hat trick of 2024 with the Argentina national team while also assisting twice for Argentina in their 6-0 win vs. Bolivia in the South American World Cup qualifiers.
At 0-0, Lautaro Martínez applied pressure on the back line and Lioneo Messi got to the loose ball, cut inside the penalty area and scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
At 1-0, Julián Álvarez played a through ball to Messi and one on one with the goalkeeper, he would pass it to Lautaro Martínez who would score the open goal. But Messi had one more assist.
Minutes later, Argentina were awarded a free kick. Messi took it, crossing it over to Julián Álvarez and he would score to give Argentina the 3-0 lead at the break.
The second half would start and Nicolás Otamendi would score but the referee would go to VAR and it was ruled offside. Nicolás Tagliafico was offside on the goal in front of the goalkeeper when Otamendi scored.
Lionel Scaloni would make three substitutions bringing on Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios and Thiago Almada on for Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Julián Álvarez. Leandro Paredes would go on to have one of the passes of the match.
Leandro Paredes would pass it over to Nahuel Molina who pulled it back to Thiago Almada and Almada would score to make it 4-0 for Argentina.
Scaloni would make two more changes, bringing on Nico Paz for Lautaro Martínez and Lisandro Martínez for Nicolás Otamendi.
Messi would score once more. He would receive the ball and run towards the Bolivian back line and his effort would beat the goalkeeper to make it 5-0 for Argentina.
But Messi was not done. Moments later, Lionel Messi would once more run at the Bolivian back line, cut to his left and score his hat trick.
Messi leads the South American World Cup qualifiers at 37 years old with six goals.
Gio Lo Celso is not on the bench for Argentina against Bolivia due to a knock.
Lo Celso will miss the Argentina match due to a knock he picked up in training on Monday. According to Fernando Czyz, Julio Soler makes the bench in his place.
The Argentina starting eleven has been announced and Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez all start.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced his starting eleven for the World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday. Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez will all start together. Here is the starting eleven:
Rulli; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Alexis Mac Allister; Messi; Julián and Lautaro
Argentina faces Bolivia at El Monumental this Tuesday, and according to reports from TyC Sports, this is the starting eleven coach Lionel Scaloni has in mind, in a 4-3-1-2 formation:
