Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday but Jose Mourinho's Chelsea suffered a shock home defeat.
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Messi took his tally to 62 Champions League goals and became the first player to score more than four Champions League hat-tricks, while also netting his 24th such treble for Barca.
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A day after Cristiano Ronaldo hit three in Real Madrid's 6-1 thumping of Galatasaray, Messi reminded everyone who is still the four-time reigning Ballon d'Or winner.
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Despite boasting eight European Cup and Champions League crowns between them, Barcelona and Ajax had never met before their Group H encounter at the Nou Camp.
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And typically it was a dazzling display from Messi that got the 2009 and 2011 winners off to the ideal start.
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Ajax are a far cry from the brilliant outfit that romped to their fourth title in 1995, just three years after Barca had broken their duck in the competition.
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Messi's first had an air of inevitability about it as he was first felled on the edge of the area and then stepped up to curl home a sumptuous free-kick.
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And his second came in another of Messi's classic moves as he took a pass from Sergio Busquets on the right before cutting inside onto his left foot to shoot home.
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Centre-back Gerard Pique headed home a pinpoint Neymar cross from the left having stayed up for a corner.
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But Messi didn't allow anyone else to hog the limelight for long as he fired home his third from Xavi's pass 15 minutes from time.
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Things only got worse for Ajax as Kolbeinn Sigthorsson saw a penalty saved by Victor Valdes after Javier Mascherano had brought down Thurani Serero.
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In the group's other game, AC Milan left it late before avoiding an embarrassing slip-up at the San Siro as Emilio Izaguirre's own goal broke Celtic's hearts, with Sulley Muntari adding a second to secure the Rossoneri a 2-0 success.
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Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were stunned in the shock result of the night as FC Basle left Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 victory in Group E.
I think Chelsea fans deserve that shock. They make a lot of noise before matches so it's good they were beaten