Cometh the hour…
Argentina will be in Russia next summer, and it’s all thanks to Lionel Messi (who else?).
Despite falling behind inside 38 seconds in a must-win final game away to Ecuador, the Barcelona forward scored a hat-trick – handing Argentina their first competitive win in Quito in 16 years.
It was Messi’s 44th career hat-trick and fifth for the national team.
The beaten finalists of the last World Cup had started the day in sixth place in the South American qualifying following a goalless draw with Peru in Buenos Aires in their last outing.
Fortunately for Jorge Sampaoli’s men, the final round of qualifiers also saw Peru and Colombia – the two sides directly above them – play each other. Given that these sides were one point and two points ahead of them respectively, a win against Ecuador would be enough for Argentina to snatch a play-off position at the very least.
A late equaliser for Peru meant that Argentina leapfrogged both of them.
This goal also had disastrous ramifications for Alexis Sanchez’s Chile side. Losing 2-0 to already-qualified Brazil at this stage, Peru’s point meant that they would be eliminated if they didn’t score a goal. They committed all their players – including goalkeeper Claudio Bravo – into pulling a goal back, but were punished with a break-away goal from Gabriel Jesus.
Argentina, despite looking like missing out on their first World Cup in 48 years, finished third.
