Messi closing in on podium of top scorers in men's international football
Just four players have now scored more than the former Barça forward
Ronaldo leads the way with 117 goals, while Messi has 86 for Argentina
Lionel Messi made more history on Sunday when he scored all five goals in Argentina's 5-0 win over Estonia at El Sadar in Pamplona, something he had never managed with his national team before and he's now close to the podium of the top goal scorers in men's international football.
Messi, who scored five goals in a single game once before, with Barcelona against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League a decade ago, has now scored 86 times for his country.
He has moved ahead of legends of the game like the Hungarian Ferenc Puskas, who scored 84 -- he also played four games for Spain but did not score for La Roja.
The five goals scored by Messi at Qatar leave him fourth in the all-time list in men's international football. Ahead of him are the still active Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads the way with 117 goals after his double vs. Switzerland on Sunday. The Iranian Ali Daei (109) and the Malaysian Mokhtar Dahari (89) come next.
Messi has scored his 86 goals in 163 games for the Albiceleste and has also set up 48 goals. He has scored 40 in friendlies, 28 in qualifiers, 12 in the Copa America and six in World Cups.
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