2026 World Cup qualifiers: Messi nets hat trick as Argentina sink Bolivia

Lionel Messi struck a vintage hat trick as world champions Argentina romped to a 6-0 win over Bolivia in their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old provided an emphatic reminder of his enduring quality with three clinical finishes, two assists, and some of his trademark creativity throughout the game as Lionel Scaloni’s side dominated.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Bolivian defender Marcelo Suarez was robbed by Lautaro Martinez, who sent Messi clear, and he cleverly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

The home crowd at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium was on their feet again in the 43rd minute when Julian Alvarez threaded a brilliant pass through to Messi, who unselfishly squared the ball to Martinez to finish.

Three minutes later, Alvarez was on target himself when Bolivia were caught napping at a free kick, with Messi chipping the ball over the top for the Atletico Madrid forward to slot home.

After the break, Nicolas Otamendi had a header ruled out for offside, but the home fans didn’t have to wait long for the fourth when Thiago Almada side-footed the ball home after a superb pull-back from Nahuel Molina.

A classic Messi goal made it 5-0 in the 84th minute — the Inter Miami forward dribbled centrally before switching from his left foot to his right and burying the ball into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, some fans were in tears after Messi cut in from the right, played a smart wall pass off substitute Nico Paz, and again put the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.

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Argentina are at the top of the 10-team table with 22 points from ten games — three points clear of second-place Colombia, who crushed Chile 4-0 in Barranquilla.

– Colombians crush Chile –

There was a different look to the team, wearing a special retro white kit marking the Colombian Football Federation’s centenary, featuring the national flag’s colours in a hoop.

It was a dashing design, and the performance of Nestor Lorenzo’s team was equally stylish, taking apart a woeful Chile side that remained rooted at the bottom of the 10-team qualifying group.

Defender Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring in the 34th minute, nodding home after Jhon Lucumi had headed a James Rodriguez corner goalwards. Jhon Cordoba slotted home a Diaz cross in the 45th minute, but the effort was ruled out for offside against Diaz.

Chile gifted the Colombians a second goal seven minutes after the interval when Benjamin Kusevic gave the ball away to Rodriguez, who squared it to Liverpool winger Luis Diaz to convert.

Substitute Jhon Duran made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute after another giveaway, this time in midfield, allowed Sinisterra to break and then feed the Aston Villa forward, who made no mistake. Sinisterra then wrapped up the win in stoppage time.

Brazil continued to ease any concerns about their qualification chances with a comfortable 4-0 win over Peru in Brasilia.

A pair of penalties converted by Barcelona winger Raphinha put the record five-time World Cup winners on their way — the first coming in the 38th minute when Carlos

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Zambrano handled the ball in the box, and the second in the 54th minute after the same defender brought down Savinho.

But there was more to appreciate in the third goal, in the 71st minute, with Andreas Pereira producing a superb scissor-kick volley from a Luiz Henrique cross from the right.

Luiz Henrique completed the rout in spectacular style with a brilliant left-footed drive from outside the box to make it 4-0 and leave Brazil in fourth place.

Paraguay boosted their chances of grabbing one of the six automatic qualification spots after substitute Antonio Sanabria scored twice in a 2-1 win over Venezuela.

Full-back Jon Aramburu put Venezuela ahead in the 25th minute, bursting down the right and collecting a pass from Yeferson Soteldo, which he buried in the bottom corner.

Torino striker Sanabria was introduced at the interval and brought sixth-placed Paraguay level when he slid in to meet a low cross from Junior Alonso.

Sanabria then grabbed the winner in the 74th minute, leading a counter-attack before getting into the box to finish off the move with a header from close range.

Uruguay and Ecuador played out a goalless draw.

2026 World Cup qualifiers: Messi nets hat trick as Argentina sink Bolivia

AFP

JUST IN: CAF exempts Nigeria, Libya AFCON qualifier match in newly released fixtures

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dropped the Nigeria-Libya African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match from its newly released schedule of upcoming fixtures.

The fixture was initially set for Libya, scheduled to kick off at 8 pm, following the first leg at Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Friday.

Nigeria secured a narrow victory with a lone goal in the final minute of the match.

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However, controversy surrounded the return leg after Super Eagles players and officials recounted their harrowing 14-hour Libya airport ordeal, prompting their return home.

CAF has initiated an investigation into the incident, sparked by Libya Football Federation allegations of sabotage and threats of legal action against Nigeria.

However in a terse tweet on the CAF X page on Tuesday, the African governing board updated Tuesday’s fixtures, notably excluding the Libya-Nigeria match.

JUST IN: CAF exempts Nigeria, Libya AFCON qualifier match in newly released fixtures

CAF insisted Nigeria play against Libya after ordeal – Sports minister

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has claimed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are “insisting” that Nigeria play Libya on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles players have said they will boycott the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, after they were held hostage at the Al Abraq Airport over 15 hours after arrival in Libya.

But in a post on X, Enoh revealed that he has spoken to Confederation of African Football president, Patrice Motsepe and the Secretary-General, Mosengo Omba.

He posted: “This morning, I was on a conference call with Confederation of African Football  President and Secretary General.

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“While the CAF President’s concern seems to be what to do to get the national team to participate in tomorrow’s match.

“I have instead informed CAF that the concern of the Government and people of Nigeria is first, the safety of the team and their safe return, urging that CAF should focus on working with us to achieve this.

“There must be a serious adverse consequence to the Libyan football federation for this unspeakable behaviour.

“This can not be through insisting that Nigeria still takes part in this match given the very obvious situation.”

CAF insisted Nigeria play against Libya after ordeal – Sports minister