Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi opened the scoring towards the Caribbean island minnows on 20 mins in Santiago del Estero.
It got here 17 years after he opened his Argentina account in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in March 2006.
The 35-year-old quickly added every other simply after the 30 minutes mark to make it 3-0, after which finished his hat-trick on 37 mins with the 5th as Argentina toyed with their overmatched warring parties.
It used to be his 7th hat-trick for the nationwide workforce.
“You cannot describe Messi in words,” mentioned fellow goalscorer Nicolas Gonzalez.
“He’s the best in the world and he shows it match after match, day after day. Every time he touches the ball, he makes you smile.”
Messi got here into the sport no longer simply as his nation’s all-time report goalscorer, however with extra targets than the following two most sensible marksmen — Gabriel Batistuta on 56 and Sergio Aguero with 41 — put in combination.
This used to be Argentina’s 2d fit since successful the World Cup in dramatic taste towards France in Qatar in December — triumphing 4-2 on consequences after an exhilarating 3-3 draw — and it used to be at all times going to be about Messi achieving 100 targets.
Now with 102, he stays 3rd within the all-time record, in the back of nice rival Cristiano Ronaldo (122) of Portugal and Iran’s Ali Daei (109).
Messi had arise brief on Thursday final week when he notched his 99th function for the Albiceleste as Argentina toiled of their homecoming birthday celebration fit towards Panama.
The Central Americans had held out till the 78th minute prior to 21-year-old MLS sensation Thiago Almada broke their resistance.
Messi then scored without delay from a free-kick a minute from time — his 800th function in skilled soccer — in entrance of 83,000 delirious fanatics in Buenos Aires.
Curacao, ranked 86th by means of global governing frame FIFA, may most effective grasp out for 20 mins prior to Messi took a move from Giovanni Lo Ceslo, minimize within his marker onto his weaker proper foot and fired a low shot into the ground nook.
The referee used to be then noticed on are living tv throwing the ball to somebody on his aspect of the pitch as DirecTV commentators speculated that it used to be heading “straight to the museum.”
Three mins later, Gonzalez outjumped goalkeeper Eloy Room to move house from 4 yards.
Gonzalez grew to become supplier as Messi scored the primary of 3 targets in 4 mins, this time together with his left foot.
He then laid off the ball for Enzo Fernandez to make it 4 with a shot from distance prior to Lo Celso launched Messi in the back of the protection to notch his treble.
Argentina took their foot off the fuel in the second one part, with just a generously-awarded Angel Di Maria penalty and close-range end from Gonzalo Montiel including to the ranking.
But the 42,000 fanatics provide remained in birthday party temper all the way through, looking ahead to their heroes to raise the World Cup trophy in entrance of them.
(With AFP inputs)