Kansas City, June 17 -- Lionel Messi turned back the clock in spectacular fashion as defending champions Argentina opened their World Cup title defence with a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria, with the 38-year-old captain scoring the first hat-trick of his storied World Cup career.

Playing his record sixth World Cup, becoming the first man in history to feature at six editions of the tournament, Messi looked to have broken the deadlock as early as the eighth minute with a close-range finish, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Algeria themselves were denied moments later when Fares Chaibi's effort was also chalked off for offside, in an even start to the Group J opener.

Messi did not have to wait long to get his name on the sc...