A tearful Messi ‘dreamt of breaking Pele’s record for a long time’
Argentina captain Lionel Messi netted a hat trick to give his side a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, surpassing Pele as CONMEBOL top scorer of all time with 79 goals.
, the Argentine grabbed his brace in the 64th minute after working a one-two with Lautaro Martinez, then completed the hat trick with two minutes left, sending the ball into the back of the net on a rebound from close range. His 77th, 78th, and 79th goals marked his seventh hat trick for the national side and
lifted him two above Pele on the South American scoring charts.
"I have dreamed of this for a long time and I thank God it was given to me,"
Messi
said on the pitch post-match.
"It is a unique moment because of how it happened and after so much waiting.
"There was no better way for it to be and to be able to be here, celebrating, is something incredible.
"My mother and my brothers are up there, they suffered a lot too. I'm very happy."
"I cannot do more than be so happy, for my family who is watching me and for all Argentines,"
Messi
continued.
"I always say individual awards are secondary, because we are here for something else, but the truth is I am very excited."
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