This archive report was first published on 27 September 2021.
On September 9, 2021, Lionel Messi made history by scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 win over Bolivia in a home World Cup qualifier, surpassing Pele's mark of 77 goals.
Published on September 27, 2021, the achievement marked Messi's 79th goal in 153 appearances for the Albiceleste.
"Hi @leomessi. Sorry if I'm late. However, I didn't want to pass up the chance to congratulate you for another record broken earlier this month," Pele wrote on Instagram.
Despite being hospitalized since undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his colon on September 4, 2021, Pele has been posting regular messages and photos on social media to assure fans that he is recovering well.
As the only player to have won the World Cup three times, Pele is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, having scored a world-record tally of 1,281 goals in a 1,363-match professional career that spanned 21 years.
