<P> Lionel Messi is an association football forward in the Argentina national football team . Since debuting for Argentina in 2005 , Messi has scored 65 goals in 127 international appearances , making him the country 's all - time top scorer , surpassing Gabriel Batistuta 's record , with a free kick against United States in the semi-final of Copa América Centenario on 21 June 2016 . He made his debut for Argentina in a 2 -- 1 away win over Hungary on 17 August 2005 . He scored his first international goal a year later in his sixth appearance for his country against Croatia . </P>
<P> Lionel Messi is an association football forward in the Argentina national football team . Since debuting for Argentina in 2005 , Messi has scored 65 goals in 127 international appearances , making him the country 's all - time top scorer , surpassing Gabriel Batistuta 's record , with a free kick against United States in the semi-final of Copa América Centenario on 21 June 2016 . He made his debut for Argentina in a 2 -- 1 away win over Hungary on 17 August 2005 . He scored his first international goal a year later in his sixth appearance for his country against Croatia . </P>
how many goals has messi scored for country
how many goals has messi scored for country
65
65