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Lionel Messi has broken several records throughout his career with Barcelona, but is now closing in on an international record set by Pelé.
Messi scored the only goal of the game when Argentina defeated Ecuador in their first match for the World Cup qualifiers for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
That was his 71S t goal for his nation, bringing him within six goals of Brazilian legend Pelé, who is the all-time top scorer for a South American nation.
Messi is already only in second place after having surpassed Ronaldo Nazario’s total of 62 international goals long ago.
The superstar’s two former Blaugrana teammates, Neymar and Luis Suárez, are fourth and fifth on the list respectively: Neymar has 61 goals for Brazil, while Suárez has scored 60 goals for Uruguay.
As Diario Sport details, Messi is likely to surpass Pelé’s record and has gone to 21 goals in the World Cup qualifiers, with Suárez currently leading in that count with 22.
