Lionel Messi marked his historic sixth World Cup appearance in unforgettable fashion, scoring all three goals as Argentina eased past Algeria 3-0 in their opening match.
The captain set the tone with a brilliant strike in the 17th minute and never looked back, repeatedly finding gaps in the Algerian defence to complete the first World Cup hat-trick of his career.
The treble also carried him to 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Miroslav Klose's all-time tournament record.
As the final whistle approached, the crowd rose to applaud the 38-year-old, who once again delivered on football's biggest stage.
It was a night of records, milestones and another reminder that even after two decades at the top, Messi remains capable of producing performances that define major tournaments.
