Argentina star Lionel Messi set a new historic record with his country’s national team by scoring two winning goals against Peru’s national team in the fourth round of the South American continent for the 2026 World Cup.

The star scored his brace in the early hours of Wednesday, GMT, to take his qualifying tally to 12 full points, 5 points behind the slumping Brazilians, leading to a fourth straight victory. Third place after losing to Uruguay.

With his two goals for the Argentina national team, “Bulga” surpassed Uruguayan Luis Suarez as the top scorer in the South American continent’s World Cup qualifying history. List before Messi.

Messi took his goal tally to 31 and was the top scorer in the South American continental qualifiers, two goals ahead of Suarez, who has 29 goals.

Behind both Suarez and Messi, Bolivian striker, Marcelo Moreno, who has scored 22 goals for his country, is fourth, while Chilean striker, Alexis Sanchez, who scored 20 goals in qualifying, is fifth. Argentine striker Hernán Crespo scored 19 goals for the Albiceleste national team.