India, June 17 -- The Lionel Messi show hit the World Cup in some pomp with the Argentina talisman's hat-trick to celebrate his becoming the first man to play in six editions. The diminutive player who turns 39 in a week delighted fans in the packed Kansas City Stadium and worldwide with no signs of a recent hamstring issue, sprinkling his genius all over the pitch to subdue Algeria 3-0 and kick off the title defence in style.

The Kansas Stadium, packed with Argentina fans in the team's colours and singing Messi's name, was rocking as Messi equalled Germany striker Miroslav Klose's World Cup record of 16 goals, zooming past France's Kylian Mbappe who had scored twice in the 3-1 win over Senegal earlier on Wednesday (IST) to move up to 14...