Argentina 4-3 Brazil: Messi downs Brazil with a hat-trick

Brazil had started the game brightly, and after 22 minutes they managed to take the lead thanks to Rômulo, who managed to bring Neymar's in swinging free-kick under control inside the box before slotting the ball past Romero.

The goal seemed to have forced Argentina into life following a slow start, and 30 minutes into the match, Lionel Messi found the back the net after being played through by his strike partner Gonzalo Higuain.

Before Brazil even had time to regroup, Alejandro Sabella's troops found the onion bag again. Angel Di Maria slipped the ball between Bruno Uvini and Juan, and Messi took it alone once more to round the helpless Rafael and send his side in at half-time 2-1 up.

After the interval, Brazil immediately came out on the attack and within ten minutes they got themselves back on level terms. Oscar exchanged passes with his Inter team-mate Leandro Damião before slotting to ball past Romero for his first international goal.

The in demand Hulk then added his name to the score sheet after 72 minutes of play by volleying home after Romero failed to gather Neymar's corner.

Brazil's joys, however, lasted no more than three minutes as Sergio Aguero, who came on as a substitute for Di Maria, whipped in a corner which was powerfully headed in by Federico Fernandez to make it 3-3.

Five minutes from time, the best player on the pitch in Lionel Messi decided the contest by racing into the centre of the field before smashing a sensational strike into the top right-hand corner of the net.

The game, however, finished on a sour note as both Marcelo and substitute Ezequiel Levezzi saw red for an altercation in injury time.

Man of the Match: Lionel Messi

ARGENTINA: Romero, Zabaleta, Federico Fernández, Garay, Clemente Rodríguez (Campagnaro); Sosa (Guiñazú), Mascherano, Gago; Di María (Agüero), Messi, Higuaín (Lavezzi)

Coach: Alejandro Sabella

BRAZIL: Rafael Cabral, Rafael (Danilo), Bruno Uvini, Juan, Marcelo; Sandro, Rômulo (Casemiro), Oscar (Giuliano); Hulk, Neymar, Leandro Damião (Alexandre Pato)

Coach: Mano Menezes