Lionel "Leo" Messi received occasional harsh criticism during his first season at French Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored six goals - in the league, his clearly worst goal since breaking through in Barcelona in the mid-00s.
But tonight he offered a show, when he scored all five goals for Argentina in a training match against Estonia in Spanish Pamplona.
86 national team goals
He thus passed the Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas on the list of the players who have scored the most national team goals in football history.
Messi has now scored 86 goals in 162 internationals - the fourth most ever.
That is two more than Puskas, and three fewer than Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari.
The two who have made the most international appearances are Iran's Ali Daei (109) and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (117).
Messi also touched the record for most goals in one and the same match for Argentina's national team.
The last time this happened was in January 1942, when Charro Moreno scored five goals against Ecuador.
Another Argentine has scored five goals in an international match: Juan Marvezzy in February 1941, against Ecuador.
ARCHIVE: Here Messi received the Ballon d'Or (November 30, 2021):
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Lionel Messi and Alexia Putellas receive the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
Photo: TT