'Messi the monster’

Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez has described Lionel Messi as “a monster” following his hat trick for Argentina in their 5-0 Copa America victory on Friday.

Messi, 28, came off the bench for the Albiceleste with half an hour left to play in Chicago and with his side leading just 1-0 against a Panama outfit that had seen Anibal Godoy sent off.

Some 26 minutes later, however, and the Barcelona star had bagged three goals, including a fine free kick, as Argentina went on to score five to book their place in the quarterfinals of the competition.“When Messi got up [to come on], I asked the fourth official, ‘How much time left?'” Gomez is quoted as saying by Associated Press.

“‘Thirty minutes,’ [he replied] and we were already spent. Messi is a monster.”

Messi had started the game on the bench for Argentina having struggled with fitness problems.