Messi’s fast start was the first of a hat trick in Barcelona’s 7-0 rout of Celtic, and fellow superstar forwards Neymar and Luis Suarez also scored.
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His treble in the 7-0 thrashing gives him the outright lead in fewer appearances than Ronaldo, who has played 133 games to his 107.
Suarez, reunited with Messi and Neymar for the first time this season, told TV3: “It has been many games since we have been able to enjoy being on the pitch together and today we did”.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was sympathetic towards his players after the heavy defeat and hopes they can learn from it.
Three minutes earlier, Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made up for his foul in the area on Moussa Dembele by blocking Dembele’s penalty kick and denying Celtic its only scoring chance.
However, Barca could face further sanctions from UEFA after thousands of separatist Catalan flags were again flown at the Camp Nou.
Iniesta had been introduced at half-time and for all Messi’s magic, the midfield schemer struck the goal of the night with a ferocious volley from Neymar’s cross.
Barca was fined $170,00 for the same offense – such political statements are banned – during last season’s competition, with a portion of the fine suspended for two years.
Normality soon resumed when Neymar cut back expertly for Messi to score easily in the 27th minute before the Brazilian delivered a delightful free-kick to make it 3-0 on 50 minutes.
The first goal of the 2016/2017 Champions League group stages came after a mere 42 seconds from the head of Paris Saint Germain striker Edinson Cavani at the Parc des Princes against Arsenal.
“Tonight is one of the tough nights that you take at this level”.
Both teams finished with 10 players.
Switzerland’s Basel was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ludogorets in the other Group A clash, with the Bulgarian champion taking part for only the second time.
The German worldwide has now saved three out of four penalties in the Champions League for Barca. It also improved on a 6-1 win over Celtic from their last meeting in 2013.
Napoli meanwhile may have lost their prolific goal-scoring machine Gonzalo Higuain after the Argentine jumped ship to Serie A rivals Juventus, but his replacement, Arkadiusz Milik, earned them a 2-1 win at Dynamo Kiev.
It was Bayern’s 13th consecutive home victory in the Champions League, beating the previous best mark held by Manchester United.
Benfica was held 1-1 at home by Besiktas when one of its own players scored late for the visitors.
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It gets no easier for Rodgers’ Bhoys in Group C as the Scottish champions next take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at home on September 28 as Barcelona get set to meet Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.
