Messi ties Pele goalscoring record

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Bolivia during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on September 9, 2021.
Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/Pool/AFP

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Lionel Messi equaled Pele's South American football goalscoring record on Thursday (Friday, Manila time), firing Argentina into the lead in their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia with his 77th international goal.

The Argentina captain's record-tying goal came in the 14th minute, with Messi nutmegging a Bolivia defender before curling a shot into the top corner.

Thursday's match comes four days after Argentina's game against Brazil on Sunday was suspended due to a COVID-19 controversy.

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