Argentina’s 6-0 demolition of Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night marked another significant step toward qualification for the World Cup 2026. The match, a masterful display of football at its best, once again thrust Lionel Messi into the spotlight as he outperformed everyone, scoring three goals and leaving Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez in his wake. Argentina is still at the top of the CONMEBOL table and is not far from getting a place in the prestigious tournament.
Here’s how Argentina battered Bolivia and which moments made this match unforgettable for all fans.
Messi’s Hat Trick Leads the Charge
Lionel Messi was the highlight of the evening, solidifying his position as one of the world’s top players. The superstar opened the scoring with a mind-blowing free kick, turning Bolivia’s goalkeeper into a statue that wouldn’t budge from his position. His second goal was a display of pure elegance, a solo effort that saw him overcome numerous defenders before slotting the ball into the bottom corner. He wrapped up his hat-trick with a clinical finish inside the box, securing his role as Argentina’s talisman.
This performance takes Messi’s tally in this qualification campaign to a record 10 goals, doing even more justice to his legacy as he leads Argentina toward World Cup glory.
Argentina’s Ruthless Attack
This was more than a brilliant Messi on the pitch; Argentina played a masterclass attack on the night against Bolivia. Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead after a throughball from Messi that was perfectly timed to split the Bolivian defense. Julian Alvarez scored from another throughball, this time from Messi, making his chemistry on the field beneficial.
Then, Thiago Almada rounded off the scoring. It had been a perfect night for Lionel Scaloni’s team, characterized by their sharp passing game and relentless pressure as Bolivia attempted to gain control over the game.
Difficulties Bolivia faced
Bolivia looked promising coming into this match, as they won the last three qualifiers consecutively. They could even go as far as defeating Colombia 1-0 in El Alto just a few days ago. Miguel Terceros, the young star of Santos, scored goals in all three of those victories, yet he and his team proved insurmountable against Argentina.
Bolivia rarely posed a threat to Argentina, managing only four shot attempts throughout the match and a mere 28% possession rate. Terceros was mostly a ghost of himself, unable to again repeat the form that has served him so well recently. The sublime Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez led Argentina’s defence, shutting down Bolivia and forcing an unhappy evening for visitors of all colors.
Argentina had almost all the possessions.
The match was characterised by Argentine dominance of possession, with an impressive 72% possession. Argentina thus forced Bolivia to spend most of their time on the defensive and dictated the tempo. Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister from midfield battled to win the ball and initiated quick counterattacks.
In the match against Bolivia, Scaloni configured his Argentine team with a high pressing unit up the pitch, which squeezed off the possibilities that Bolivia had to build from the back. The hostile pressure created numerous opportunities for Argentina, while Bolivia made some hasty mistakes.
The tactical genius of Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni is leading Argentina to the top of CONMEBOL after gaining 22 points from nine games, eight more than required for the playoffs to secure seventh place. In Sunday’s match against Bolivia, Argentina’s tactical acumen was evident, as they executed every tactic flawlessly.
Scaloni showed excellent judgement in selecting Messi, Martinez, and Alvarez together, as those three scored five of the six goals for Argentina. The fluidity and understanding between them were an absolute joy to watch, as each contributed to attack and defense.
Therefore, Scaloni’s Argentina should demonstrate their ability to dominate the game, excelling in possession and demonstrating a formidable attacking force when needed. Versatility will be crucial for the Argentine footballers as they continue their quest for qualification and more World Cup challenges.
Argentina’s Road to Qualification
This implies that Argentina will secure the top spot in the CONMEBOL standings, making their path to the 2026 World Cup almost certain. With 22 points, Argentina is eight points clear of a playoff for the seventh and final automatic spot. Under Scaloni, who has remained unbeaten through nine matches, Argentina has managed the qualification campaign superbly.
Their next test will be a trip to Ecuador, another powerful side in the CONMEBOL qualifiers. However, for Argentina, who seem to be in search of a winning streak, this will also be a crucial game to secure early qualification and provide Scaloni with the flexibility he needs to rotate the playing squad prior to the World Cup.
Bolivia’s Disappointment
It ends a bright streak for Bolivia. Three in a row going into Buenos Aires, Bolivia started confident against an Argentine side on its heels, having beaten Colombia 1-0 in the first round. Bolivia’s lack of midfield control and inability to stem the attack put them in danger from the start.
The star of Bolivia’s previous matches, Miguel Terceros, had no special preference for Argentine first-timers. Bolivia’s trainer, meanwhile, faces the challenge to regroup and refocus on the next round of the qualifiers.
Messi’s Last Dance?
With Lionel Messi at what could be arguably his last World Cup, such a performance tends to remind the world of how much talent he possesses. Every game becomes a chance for Messi to accomplish something worthwhile and take Argentina to another World Cup, perhaps the final chapter in a legendary career.
Argentina is likely to go into the 2026 World Cup as one of the favorites, with Messi at the center of everything they do now. He scores, assists, and creates magic moments; therefore, Argentina is not an opponent any team would want to face on any day.
Conclusion
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Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 6-0 victory, demonstrating his astute leadership of the team. Argentina’s victory, coupled with their current qualification for the World Cup, solidifies their position as one of the top teams in South America.
Going into 2026, Argentina supporters would have been looking forward to that magical day when their beloved nation wins the World Cup in Lionel Messi’s likely leading role.
