Messi Overtakes Pele’s Goals Record

Lionel Messi has overtaken Pele as the leading South American men’s goal scorer in international matches, with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier win against Bolivia.

Scoring all the goals in the 3-0 win in Buenos Aires brought Messi’s total for Argentina to 79 in 153 games.

Brazil legend Pele finished his career on 77 international goals in 92 games.