Highlights: Lionel Messi's dazzling performance for Argentina against Bolivia
Reigning Ballon d’Or holder Lionel Messi is currently in the midst of a sensational season for Barcelona and he carried his form over to Argentina's matches, putting in a brilliant performance against Bolivia. The Argentine captain scored his 50th international goal in the Albiceleste's 2-0 win over Bolivia.
Messi was a picture of focus against the Bolivians, setting out on multiple purposeful, solo runs, apart from fashioning a lot of chances for his teammates. The chance for Gabriel Mercado's opening goal was created by Messi only, as his pinpoint lob found Gonzalo Higuain in the box, whose initial attempt was blocked, but the ball was then passed to an onrushing Mercado, who converted easily.
Here's a look at the goal:
Following the opener, Messi got a chance to score from a free-kick, and his accurate and curving shot was saved well by the Bolivian goalkeeper, Carlos Lampe.
The little magician was not done though, and scored in the 28th minute, after Ever Banega was fouled inside the box.
Despite having scored and given his country a comfortable two-goal cushion, Messi continued probing the Bolivia defence, and almost created a chance out of thin air. With the ball at his feet near the centre-circle, a swift turn saw him fool two Bolivia defenders, before a turn of pace saw him go past them, and then he produced a brilliant pass to Higuain, evading a couple of challenges. The resulting shot from the Napoli man went just wide of the goal.
The second half saw the Barcelona man continue in the same vein, as he almost scored from a header, after a ball came through from deep on the right flank. Messi's eventual header went wide.
Then around the 60th minute of the match, the Argentinian produced what was probably the moment of the match. He embarked on a mazy, defence splitting run from deep inside his own half, taking five defenders out of the equation by wrongfooting and dribbling past them, before a slightly heavy touch saw the defence shield the ball out.
His last contribution to the match was a curling, dipping free-kick that was tipped away very well by Lampes at full stretch.