From Lionel Messi rolling back the years to full stadiums and a Cape Verde team that shocked Spain, here is what we learned after the first round of games at the World Cup:

Lionel Messi’s World Cup odyssey appeared to reach its perfect climax in Qatar four years ago when he lifted the trophy. Or so we thought.

As his 39th birthday approaches, the Argentina captain could not resist one last crack at football’s biggest prize, and he produced a memorable hat-trick in Kansas City.

Messi’s goals against Algeria — two thunderous strikes and a poacher’s finish — took him level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals.

France forward Kylian Mbappe is two goals behind.

“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more,” a delighted Messi said.

No set of numbers can adequately sum up Messi’s genius, but they help tell the story of a man who continues to dazzle on the global stage.

Against Austria, Messi has the chance to claim the record outright, further strengthening his case as the greatest player the game has ever seen.

Toothless Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo took center stage in Portugal’s opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo after three of football’s biggest stars lit up the first round of matches.

Mbappe and Erling Haaland both scored twice as the race for the Golden Boot got off to a flying start, while Lionel Messi outshone them all with a hat-trick.

Saudi-based Ronaldo, however, was largely a bystander in the first match of his sixth World Cup as Portugal labored to a 1-1 draw in Houston.

The 41-year-old’s 25 touches were his fewest in a game at a major tournament for Portugal when playing the full match.

And Ronaldo, who is closing in on 1,000 career goals for club and country, has now gone 10 consecutive games at major tournaments without finding the net.

Coach Roberto Martinez faces an unenviable decision over whether to drop a player who has enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the game. (Agence France-Presse)