Lionel Messi began the World Cup with a brilliant hat-trick but concerns over his father’s health threaten to overshadow his participation.

Lionel Messi’s father is undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness and his family asked the media for “humanity” on Thursday amid rumours about Jorge Messi’s health while his son competes at the World Cup. “Jorge is going through a health situation,” the Messi family said in a statement.

The family did not specify the illness that the 68-year-old Jorge Messi is suffering from. “He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favourably within his current condition,” the statement said.

One round of matches, 24 games, mountains of data. Enjoy the choicest nuggets here, including:

• Mexico moved the ball upfield slower than any other team. They could afford to take their time as South Africa offered next to no threat.

• South Korea were worthy winners, with the 25-pass buildup to Hwang In-beom’s equaliser the joint-fifth longest passing sequence leading to a goal in the World Cup since records begin in 1966.

Catch up on all yesterday’s action with Max and the gang in audio-visual format.

The match currently in play is one-way traffic in favour of the tournament hosts against a Qatar side now down to nine men. But the result risks being overshadowed by a horror injury to Canada midfielder Ismael Kone.

In Group B Switzerland took a giant step towards the knockout phase with a 4-1 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The hype around Johan Manzambi will only heighten after his star turn from the substitutes’ bench helped Switzerland out of a hole and got their tournament truly up and running. The 20-year-old managed to excel for Freiburg in their comprehensive Europa League final defeat against Aston Villa last month and, with 73 minutes played here and three minutes after entering as part of a triple substitution, his superb volley put an end to a sterile contest, hooking a right-foot shot into the Bosnia and Herzegovina net.

Mexico and South Korea would have been delighted with the Group A result earlier in the day with South Africa holding Czechia to a 1-1 draw courtesy of a late penalty.

The decision to award the spot-kick was a clear demonstration the modern handball law is not fit for purpose.

That neither of them got it means both can still go through. A win over South Korea would mean South Africa progress, although a second yellow card means Mokoena will miss the game. A win for Czechia against Mexico would see them through too. Whether either are capable is a different matter.