After 333 days, he came to play on the soil of the country. This is the first time in front of the home crowd after two and a half months of injury. Lionel Messi painted that comeback brilliantly. After a long time at home, he got a hat-trick. Made two more with teammates. After 5 goals to the benefit of Messi, the ball was once again sent to the opponent Bolivia's net.

Messi's hat-trick

Argentina destroyed Bolivia 6-0 in the return phase at home. Apart from Messi's hat-trick, the other two strikers Lautaro Martinez and Julián Alvarez also got goals. The other goal came from the foot of Alvarez's substitute Thiago Almada. Thanks to this 6-goal victory, Argentina strengthened their dominance in the CONMEBOL region in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni has had success in the last two years by alternating Lautaro Martinez and Julián Alvarez. Both of them were dropped together against Bolivia. Messi was on the right side. Cristian Medina and Nicolas Taliafico were in defense for Jorge Argentina due to multiple injuries. The Argentinian coach's attacking philosophy was evident right from the formation.

That was evident in the statistics of the first 45 minutes of the match. In the entire first half, Argentina turned the stick in Bolivia's defense. In addition to the ball possession in the match, Argentina's dominance was in full swing. Only Messi was the difference between the two teams in the first half. Along with one goal, he made two assists. At the end of the first 45 minutes of the match, Argentina scored 3 goals.

The first goal of the match came from a clinical finish by Messi or Pai after taking Lautaro Martinez's pass. He brought number ten to Argentina in 19 minutes. The defenders in front or the goalkeeper at the near post were unable to stop (1-0). Messi rattled the net at the near post with a powerful shot. It was his 110th goal for the national team. However, the number increased by 2 at the end of the match.

After that, Lautaro also acknowledged his gratitude in the 43rd minute of the match. In the counter attack, he got the ball from the midfield and entered the box himself. Then he made a selfless pass to Lautaro. By then the entire Bolivian defense was exposed. Tapped into the empty post for the score (2-0).

Argentina get a free kick in midfield in first half stoppage time. Messi's stunning cross from the spot. Julian Alvarez broke the offside trap. Finish (3-0) with the ball down the chest In the first 45 minutes, 3 Argentine strikers got their names on the scoresheet.

Argentina scored another goal in the 50th minute. Enzo Fernandez crossed from the free kick. Argentinian Nicolas Otamendi also got the goal after jumping over the Bolivian defender. But, it was offside in the build-up. That goal was disallowed. After Vascara's two great saves, Argentina did not get a goal. Thiago Almada scored in the 69th minute. The striker completed the team's last goal by tapping in Christian Medina's pass.

Messi's two goals in the 84th and 86th minutes may not be able to be described very differently. Both times curled left-footed shots from just outside the dbox. The Bolivian goalkeeper had no way to stop those two balls in the lower corner. Assisted once by Ezaquiel Palacios. And Nico Paz, who came down to play his first match, assisted in the other.

C

After this victory, Argentina collected 22 points from 10 matches in the World Cup qualifiers. Bolivia earned 12 points in a draw. They are still at number 7. They are getting a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.