Breaking down Lionel Messi's 100 Argentina goals

As it proved, the 35-year-old has reached two major milestones during the international period, where Argentina also celebrated their 2022 World Cup success in front of their fans.

Messi found the net from a direct free-kick in the 89th minute of Thursday's 2-0 victory over Panama, representing his 800th career goal for club and country.

The Argentine reached another notable landmark on Tuesday night, scoring his 100th international goal to open the scoring against Curacao.

Messi went on to wrap up a hat-trick within 17 minutes, as Argentina cruised to a commanding 7-0 victory.

Here, Sports Mole commemorates the remarkable achievement by breaking down Messi's remarkable century of international goals.

FIRST GOAL - CROATIA (MARCH 1, 2006)

In just his sixth international appearance, Messi made his mark for Argentina, scoring in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Croatia.

Argentina fell behind in the third minute, but within 60 seconds, Messi provided the assist for Carlos Tevez to tap home the equaliser.

Within two minutes, the Paris Saint-Germain forward was able to celebrate a goal of his own, cutting inside onto his left foot, before driving the ball home from the edge of the box.

Incidentally, the contest is also remembered for Luka Modric's debut, and his Croatian side managed to turn the friendly around to claim a narrow victory.

50TH GOAL - BOLIVIA (MARCH 30, 2016)

Ten years after scoring his first senior goal in an Argentina shirt, Messi was celebrating his 50th goal for his country.

Messi missed Argentina's opening four qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup through injury, but he returned to face Chile and Bolivia.

Ultimately, he was unable to find the net in a 2-1 win over Chile, but just days later, he netted the second goal in a 2-0 victory against Bolivia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

Ever Banega was brought down in the box, and from the subsequent spot-kick, Messi kept his composure to bring up his half-century of international goals.

100TH GOAL - CURACAO (MARCH 29, 2023)

After scoring his first and 50th international goals in March, it only seemed fitting that Messi registered his 100th Argentina strike in the same month.

In the 20th minute against Curacao, Messi cleverly chopped the ball onto his right boot before firing past Eloy Room in the Curacao goal.

Goals 101 and 102 quickly followed alongside goals from Nico Gonzalez and Enzo Fernandez to establish a five-goal lead by half time, before Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Montiel grabbed a goal apiece after the break to round off the 7-0 demolition.

Messi has now become just the third player after Iran's Ali Daei and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to register a century of goals in men's international football.

MAJOR TOURNAMENTS - 26

The Argentine's 26 major tournament goals are split evenly between the Copa America and the World Cup.

Messi lifted his first major trophy for his country in 2021 when he scored four goals in seven games as Argentina went on to beat Brazil 1-0 in the final thanks to Di Maria's winner.

In December last year, the 35-year-old ticked off the major honour that had alluded him for the duration of his career, as he played a starring role in Argentina's World Cup triumph at the 2022 tournament.

Messi found the net in six of his country's seven matches in Qatar, including a brace in the final against France, which ended in a 3-3 draw.

In the subsequent penalty shootout, Messi expertly dealt with the pressure to dispatch Argentina's first spot-kick, before Paulo Dybala, Leandro Paredes and Montiel followed suit to secure Argentina's third World Cup trophy.

HAT-TRICKS - NINE

Seven years since making his debut, Messi produced his first Argentina hat-trick, scoring all three goals in a 3-1 friendly victory over Switzerland in February 2012.

In the 11 years that have followed, the Barcelona legend has managed to rack up eight more hat-tricks in the famous Argentina jersey.

Five of his international hat-tricks have taken place in friendlies, including a memorable 4-3 victory over Argentina's biggest rivals Brazil in June 2012.

Although Messi has been unable to register three goals in a single World Cup game, he has achieved the feat in qualifying games against Ecuador and Bolivia.

Messi's only hat-trick at a major tournament took place in the centenary edition of the Copa America in 2016 when he played a leading role in a commanding 5-0 victory over Panama in Argentina's second group game.

MOST GOALS IN A SINGLE MATCH - FIVE

In June 2022, Messi became the first Argentina player to rack up five goals in a single game since 1942 as guided his nation to a 5-0 victory over Estonia in a friendly.

Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before adding a second on the stroke of half time with a powerful left-footed finish.

With two minutes of the restart, Argentina's all-time top scorer coolly guided home Nahuel Molina's cross to round off his hat-trick.

Two more goals were added in the final 20 minutes, ensuring Messi became the first player to score five goals in both a Champions League and an international fixture.

Impressively, he previously achieved the feat in the second leg of Barcelona's Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen in March 2012, guiding his side to an emphatic 7-1 victory.