Lionel Messi has overtaken Pele as the leading South American men’s goalscorer in international matches with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier win against Bolivia after scoring all the goals of the match ending 3-0 in Buenos Aires.

This brought Messi’s total goal tally for Argentina to 79 in 153 games Brazil legend Pele completed his career with 77 international goals in 92 games. Messi’s 14th-minute goal from outside the box put him level with Pele and he smashed the record in the second half.

The 34-year-old dribbled past a defender for his second goal before getting a hat-trick from a rebound two minutes before full-time. The Argentina captain Messi and his teammates celebrated with the Copa America trophy in front of 20,000 fans at the Monumental Stadium after the match.

    Messi has steered his side to the title which is also his first major trophy in international football, in July, defeating Brazil in the final. “I dreamed about this day a lot and thanks to God it arrived,” Messi wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of the team with the trophy after the match. “I don’t have words to thank you for all the love I’ve received. What a beautiful night, I enjoyed it so much – unforgettable.”