Lionel Messi passes 100 international goals as Argentina thrash Curacao in friendly

Lionel Messi became the third male player to surpass 100 international goal after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 7-0 friendly thrashing of Curacao at Santiago del Estero on Tuesday.

Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi opened the scoring against the Caribbean island minnows on 20 minutes for his 100th goal and soon added another just after the half-hour mark to make it 3-0. The Paris Saint-Germain star then completed his hat-trick on 37 minutes with the fifth as Argentina toyed with their overmatched opponents. It was his seventh hat-trick for the national team.

Messi came into the game not just as his country's all-time record goalscorer, but with more goals than the next two top players – Gabriel Batistuta on 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 – combined.

This was Argentina's second match since winning the World Cup in dramatic style against France in Qatar in December – triumphing 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw – and it was always going to be about Messi reaching 100 goals.

He remains third in the all-time list, behind great rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Iran's Ali Daei (109).

"What a beautiful way to end this international break," Messi posted on Instagram. "How impressive today all the people in Santiago del Estero are. I hope we can continue to share many more moments like this together and that this madness never ends!!!"

Messi had come up short on Thursday last week when he notched his 99th goal as Argentina toiled in their homecoming celebration match against Panama.

The Central Americans had held out until the 78th minute before 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada broke their resistance.

Messi then scored direct from a free-kick a minute from time – his 800th goal in professional