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.
Published : Oct 11, 2017 13:12 IST
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.
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 .
Final CONMEBOL standings
| Position | Teams | GD | Points |
| 1 | Brazil | +30 | 41 |
| 2 | Uruguay | +12 | 31 |
| 3 | Argentina | +3 | 28 |
| 4 | Colombia | +2 | 27 |
| 5 | Peru | +1 | 26 |
| 6 | Chile | -1 | 26 |
| 7 | Paraguay | -6 | 24 |
| 8 | Ecuador | -3 | 20 |
| 9 | Bolivia | -22 | 14 |
| 10 | Venezuela | -16 | 12 |