by Tim Stannard

Brazil and Argentina pick up 100% records in first round of World Cup qualifying as Neymar and Messi return to Europe 

For once, a trip to the South American World Cup qualifiers turned out well for the world's biggest soccer stars rather than ending up being stretchered off the pitch or announcing an immediate retirement from the international game. 

Neymar had the sparkliest night of it on duty for Brazil by netting a hat-trick - with two penalties, so not a proper hat-trick - in a 4-2 victory at Peru. Those goals moved Neymar into a tie with Ronaldo the First into second place in the all-time scoring list for Brazil with 62 strikes. 

The PSG forward is only 14 goals away from beating Pele's record of 77 to become Brazil's goalscoring GOAT. 

More often the not, Messi's excursions to Argentina do not go so well, however the Barcelona man captained his country to a first away win against Bolivia in the 145,000 feet up, edge of space, altitude of La Paz in 15 years. 

Although Argentina's goals in the 2-1 victory came through Lautaro Martinez and Angel Correa, Messi got to enjoy a scuffle at the end of the match with Bolivian goalscorer Marcelo Martins with an exchange of potty-mouthed opinions. 

Both footballers will now be jetting back to Europe for a return to club soccer action. Neymar is on duty for PSG in a Friday clash at Nimes that is live on beIN SPORTS at 3PM ET. 

Messi is on duty for Barcelona at Getafe with coverage getting underway from 2:30PM ET on a Super Saturday of action on beIN SPORTS that sees Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona back-to-back-to-back to back from 7AM ET. 

No need to go outside. Outside is bad. beIN with beIN. 

The Sports Burst live show will look back at Tuesday night's South American action at 12PM ET. Head to our beIN SPORTS USA Facebook page or XTRA channel at 12PM ET. 

Cristiano Ronaldo sits out Sweden Nations League clash 

In perhaps the most 2020 story possible today, Cristiano Ronaldo will be missing from the Portugal side that takes on Sweden in a Nations League clash on Wednesday. 

The Juventus forward is beginning a period of self-isolation after the Portuguese Soccer Federation announced that the player had tested positive for COVID-19. 

However, Ronaldo is set to find out whether his team beat Napoli or not in a Serie A fixture on Sunday 4th October. Currently, the result is a 3-0 victory for Juventus, however the game might be postponed ten days after it took place.

Well. Didn't take place actually. 

The big mess happened when the Napoli squad was told not to travel to Turin for the match by local health authorities after two members of the team tested positive for COVID-19. Both Serie A and Juve claimed that this decision was against agreed sporting protocols and that the game should have gone ahead. Hence, Juventus currently have a forfeited victory. 

A judge will decide on Wednesday what the result really is. Should the decision be in favor of Napoli and the game is postponed and not forfeited, then it sets a heck of a precedent for the Italian league season going forward.