SPORTS MOLE
Lionel Messi scored both goals in Argentina‘s 2-0 win over Peru to become the all-time top scorer in South American qualifying.
Messi scored his 29th qualifying goal in September’s 1-0 victory against Ecuador to the record held by his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez.
The 36-year-old missed the chance to move past Suarez in Argentina’s previous two fixtures — a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in September and a narrow 1-0 win against Paraguay on Thursday.
Messi finally surpassed Suarez in Tuesday’s away meeting with Peru, scoring a first-half brace to guide his country to a 2-0 victory.
The Inter Miami forward opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a clinical first-time finish from Nico Gonzalez‘s cut-back.
Ten minutes later, he was celebrating his second goal of the game after guiding the ball in at the near-post to register his 31st goal in South American World Cup qualifying.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Messi said: “This team is incredible. Every time they play they are very close to being the best in history.
“On a game level I think we have grown. After winning the World Cup we are confident, very loose, more united and firm. Hopefully we can continue to grow.”
Having struggled with injury in the last month, Messi’s performance level in Thursday’s victory impressed Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni.
“I saw him as if he had not had an injury or a break,” Scaloni told reporters. “It is true that the team has understood him for a while now, he plays in a very marked way that benefits him. I hope he plays as long as he can, everyone is happy to see him on the pitch.
“We won’t be affected by his break because we won’t be competing again until March. I imagine he will do his preseason with his team, it is not something that really worries us.
