Messi, Suarez create CONMEBOL history

The Barcelona forwards are now the joint highest goal-scorers in the South American World Cup qualifiers with 21 goals each.

Suarez (L) and Messi are teammates at Spanish football club Barcelona.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez became the first players to breach the 20-goal mark in CONMEBOL qualifiers history when they helped Argentina and Uruguay achieve World Cup qualification on Tuesday.

The Barcelona forwards are now the joint highest goal-scorers in the South American World Cup qualifiers with 21 goals each.

The pair needed to fire on the night to ensure their teams booked their seats for the finals in Russia next year. In the process of their exploits, they overtook former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo's tally of 19 goals.

21 - Luis #Suárez and Lionel #Messi are now the historical joint-top scorers in South American WC Qualifiers history. Brothers. pic.twitter.com/Uwl5YjLDJd

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) October 11, 2017

 

While Messi scored a hat-trick - his first in World Cup qualifying - in the Albiceleste's 3-1 come from behind win over Ecuador , Suarez scored a brace in his team's 4-2 win against Bolivia .

3 - Lionel #Messi has scored his first hat-trick ever in WC Qualifiers. Hero. https://t.co/ONHXABlkPV

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) October 11, 2017

                                                      Final CONMEBOL standings