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Messi scored a hat-trick in the World Cup South America qualifier, surpassing legendary Pele with 79 goals in A-match, becoming the top scorer by a South American player.
Correspondent Kim Hyung-yeol.
<Reporter> While the
Premier League teammates who called for the controversy over violating quarantine rules are missing, Messi performed a spectacular one-man show against Bolivia and thrilled home fans who visited the stadium for the first time in 20 months.
The opening goal in the 14th minute was the highlight.
After pulling the ball through the defensive crotch, he fired a picturesque left-footed mid-range shot.
In the 19th minute of the second half, when the left footed shot was blocked, he shook the net with his right foot.
With his 78th national team goal, he broke Pele's record for most goals in a South American player's A match.
Messi, who completed a hat-trick in the 43rd minute and led the team to a 3-0 victory, also shed tears by revealing the first Copa America trophy that he won two months ago.
[Lionel Messi/Argentina captain: My family who came to the stadium suffered a lot because of me.
I'm so happy right now.]
(Video editing: Oh Young-taek)