Lionel Messi returns for Argentina with hat-trick, 2 assists and the realization that “these could be the last games”

Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina national team in a big way on Tuesday with a hat trick and two assists in a World Cup qualifier.

The 37-year-old icon also admitted that the games he is playing now at the end of his career “could be the last games”. In a post-match interview, he declined a commitment to play for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup.

Messi returned to the lineup for Tuesday's game against Bolivia in Buenos Aires in front of some 85,000 raucous fans after missing Argentina's last two World Cup qualifiers with an ankle injury. He was in top form in the 6-0 win and secured Argentina's top spot in South America.

Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute, much to the delight of the crowd at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium.

Messi then set up a Lautaro Martínez goal in the 43rd minute that doubled Argentina's lead to 2-0. This goal also came from a breakaway.

Julián Alvarez scored Argentina's third goal of the night just before halftime. This time too he had to rely on an assist from Messi.

Messi played no role in Argentina's fourth goal, a strike from Thiago Almada just outside the goal area. But he crowned the scoring success with two more goals and completed the hat trick.

In the 84th minute, Messi received a pass from Exequiel Palacios and darted through Bolivian defenders to score a right-footed shot just inside the penalty area.

Then, in the 86th minute, he completed the hat trick with another goal from just inside the penalty area, this time with his left foot.

The party in the stands, which lasted over 90 minutes, continued with cheers and adoring gestures from an Argentine audience who were certainly aware that there won't be many more moments like this.

Messi expressed his own appreciation for the moment after the game.

Argentina will defend its World Cup title in 2022 when the tournament moves to North America and games are played in the United States, Mexico and Canada. When asked if he planned to be present at these games, Messi preferred to focus on the moment at hand.

“I haven’t set a date or deadline,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it all. “I'm more excited than ever to be here and feel the love from the people because I know these could be the last games.”