LOS ANGELES (United States) (AFP) – 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:_x000D_
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Messi’s still got it_x000D_
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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._x000D_
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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._x000D_
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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._x000D_
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France forward Kylian Mbappe is two goals behind._x000D_
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“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more,” a delighted Messi said._x000D_
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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._x000D_
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Against Austria on Monday, Messi has the chance to claim the record outright, further strengthening his case as the greatest player the game has ever seen._x000D_
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Toothless Ronaldo_x000D_
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Cristiano Ronaldo took centre 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._x000D_
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Kylian 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._x000D_
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Spectators at the stadium in Philadelphia to watch the Ivory Coast against Ecuador World Cup group game._x000D_
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Saudi-based Ronaldo, however, was largely a bystander in the first match of his sixth World Cup as Portugal laboured to a 1-1 draw in Houston._x000D_
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The 41-year-old’s 25 touches were his fewest in a game at a major tournament for Portugal when playing the full match._x000D_
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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._x000D_
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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._x000D_
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Cape Verde make case for 48-team tournament_x000D_
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Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha breaking down in tears as he was embraced by his team-mates was one of the defining images of the opening round as the archipelago of just over 500,000 people shut down European champions Spain in a goalless draw._x000D_
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La Roja were expected to stroll to victory in Atlanta but came up against the inspired 40-year-old keeper and a nation determined to make a mark on their World Cup debut._x000D_
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In doing so Cape Verde also landed a blow to critics of the expanded 48-team tournament, including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin who claimed the format would lead to “completely uninteresting” matches._x000D_
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Vozinha’s heroics made him an instant social media sensation._x000D_
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From having 50,000 Instagram followers before the match, he now has nearly 13 million, more than NFL icon Patrick Mahomes and NBA star Victor Wembanyama._x000D_
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Full stadiums despite costly tickets_x000D_
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The sight of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which hosted the Super Bowl this year, packed to near-capacity for the meeting of Austria and Jordan on Tuesday — perhaps not the most glamorous fixture — proved that high ticket prices are not putting off spectators at this World Cup._x000D_
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FIFA said the official attendance of 68,527 was part of the total 281,223 fans who passed through the turnstiles on Tuesday, surpassing the previous World Cup record for a single day of 277,070, established on June 28, 1994._x000D_
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Referees rein in the red cards_x000D_
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Only four red cards were shown at each of the last two World Cups, in 2018 and 2022, in a notable decrease from previous tournaments._x000D_
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It looked like we might be on course for a free-for-all flurry of sendings-off this time when three players were dismissed in the opening game as 10-man co-hosts Mexico beat nine-man South Africa 2-0._x000D_
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But it appears that performance from Brazilian official Wilton Sampaio has led to FIFA encouraging referees to be more prudent about reaching for the red._x000D_
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Not a single player was sent off in the next 23 games.
