LIONEL MESSI moved past Ferenc Puskas to become the fourth highest-scorer in international football after firing in FIVE goals against Estonia.
The 34-year-old scored all five of Argentina’s goals in their friendly romp against the European minnows at Spain’s Estadio El Sadar.
Paris Saint-Germain ace Messi put on another masterclass just days after his man of the match display against Italy in the Finalissima.
The seven-time Ball d’Or winner broke the deadlock against Estonia in the eighth minute from the penalty spot before bagging another just before the break.
Messi completed his hat-trick two minutes after half-time to move level with Hungarian legend Puskas on 84 international goals.
He then scored in the 71st and 76th minute to bring his tally to 86 goals in 162 games for the South American giants.
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Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (117), Iran’s Ali Daei (109) and Malaysia’s Mokhtar Dahari (89) have scored more than Messi.
It is the first time that Messi has ever scored five times for Argentina.
And it is just the second time that Messi has achieved the feat having banged in five goals in Barcelona‘s 7-1 mauling over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League in 2012.
Messi has also matched Manuel Seoane in 1925 and Juan Marvezzi in 1941 by scoring five goals in a single game for Argentina.
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Speaking earlier this week about Argentina, the ten-time LaLiga champion said: “We keep growing, that’s what we are looking for.
“We are working on a day by day basis in order to improve further.
“We continue to say that we are not the top favourites, but we will put up a fight against anyone, because this group is hopeful, it has clear goals.
“We must keep improving. Now we have important matches in September, we need to work and improve in order to arrive the best way possible at our World Cup debut.”
