WATCH: Lionel Messi equals Gabriel Batistuta's all-time Argentina record
Sunday 19 June 2016 11:40, UK
Lionel Messi scored his fourth goal of Argentina's Copa America campaign to equal Gabriel Batistuta's international record of 54 goals in all competitions.
Batistuta, who won two consecutive Copa America titles during his career, set the all-time record in 2002 when he scored his final international goal after 78 appearances.
But 28-year-old Messi matched that record on Saturday night after Argentina beat Venezuela 4-1 in Massachusetts to breeze through to the Copa America semi-finals, where they will face host nation USA.
Gonzalo Higuain's double and Luis Manuel Seijas' penalty miss put the Albiceleste in control at half-time at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Messi added a third on the hour mark and although Salomon Rondon got Venezuela on the scoresheet in the 70th minute, Erik Lamela put the game to bed with a fourth just a minute later.
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Argentina will face host nation the United States in the first Copa America semi-final in Houston on Tuesday night.
Click play on the video above to watch Messi's record-equalling goal. You can see Copa America matches live on Premier Sports.
