Two Lionel Messi Goals In Win Over Peru See Argentina Captain Break South American Scoring Record

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Peru 2-0. Messi broke Luis Suarez's record for most goals scored in World Cup qualifiers by a South American player.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Peru 2-0 in Lima on Tuesday night.

Both of Messi's goals - his 105th and 106th at senior international level - arrived inside the opening 42 minutes from first-time shots from just inside the penalty area.

The Inter Miami star fired emphatically into the top corner from 16 yards following a Nicolas Gonzalez assist just after the half-hour mark.

His second goal of the game came courtesy of a low strike after being set up by Enzo Fernandez.

¡Una definición propia de Messi! El gol del 🔟 que abrió la victoria de @Argentina en Lima ✨🇦🇷#CreeEnGrande #EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/e6fvMjqbvU

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) October 18, 2023

¡El segundo de Lionel Messi! Gran jugada colectiva de @Argentina para el doblete del capitán campeón del mundo ⚽️🇦🇷#CreeEnGrande pic.twitter.com/kQazeE2SRT

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) October 18, 2023

Messi completed a full 90 minutes for the first time since September 4 and he had the ball in the net again in the second half.

But he was denied the 58th hat-trick of his career by an offside call.

Messi's two goals against Peru mean that the 36-year-old has now scored 31 goals in World Cup qualifiers during his Argentina career.

He has therefore scored more goals in World Cup qualifiers than any other South American player, having previously been tied with Uruguay's Luis Suarez on 29.

¡Solo en la cima! Con su doblete ante @SeleccionPeru, Lionel Messi quedó como máximo goleador histórico de las #EliminatoriasSudamericanas 🔝⚽️#CreeEnGrande pic.twitter.com/dK5J1dx84t

— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) October 18, 2023

Lionel Messi has scored 31 career goals in World Cup qualifiers for Argentina :: IMAGO/Icon Sportswire/Peter Joneleit

Highlights: Peru 0-2 Argentina