Franco Mastantuono scored his first career hat-trick in Fiorentina’s 4-2 win over Venezia, becoming the youngest Argentine to achieve the feat in one of Europe’s top five leagues and breaking Lionel Messi’s long-standing record.
Franco Mastantuono Breaks Lionel Messi’s 19-Year Record With Historic Hat-Trick
Franco Mastantuono has broken an incredible record previously held by Lionel Messi after producing a stunning hat-trick for Fiorentina.
The 19-year-old scored three times as Fiorentina came from behind to beat Venezia 4-2 in Serie A.
It was the first hat-trick of Mastantuono’s professional career.
More importantly, it made him the youngest Argentine player ever to score a hat-trick in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Mastantuono breaks Messi’s record
Mastantuono achieved the feat at the age of just 19 years and 28 days.
The previous record belonged to Messi.
Messi was 19 years and 259 days old when he scored his famous first Barcelona hat-trick against Real Madrid in March 2007.
That unforgettable El Clasico finished 3-3 at Camp Nou, with the young Messi scoring all three Barcelona goals.
His record stood for more than 19 years.
Now Mastantuono has beaten it by 231 days.
A historic night for Mastantuono
Fiorentina did not have an easy start against Venezia.
The Viola fell behind before Mastantuono took control of the game.
The Real Madrid loanee scored twice in quick succession to turn the match around.
He then completed his hat-trick late in the second half.
His third goal arrived in unusual fashion after his first effort was saved and the rebound hit him before going into the net.
It completed the biggest individual performance of his young European career.
His first three Fiorentina goals came in one game
Mastantuono had arrived at Fiorentina on loan from Real Madrid without immediately producing goals or assists.
That changed completely against Venezia.
His first goal for Fiorentina became two, and then three, all in the same match.
It was also his first career hat-trick.
The timing made the performance even more important because Fiorentina had struggled at the beginning of the Serie A season.
Fiorentina finally get their first win
Fiorentina entered the match after losing their opening three Serie A games.
Pressure was already beginning to grow around the team.
Mastantuono’s hat-trick helped Fiorentina secure a 4-2 victory and their first league points of the season.
Mateo Pellegrino scored Fiorentina’s other goal.
But there was no doubt about the star of the night.
Mastantuono left the pitch after a performance that immediately entered the history books.
Messi’s record had stood since 2007
The player Mastantuono replaced at the top of the list makes the achievement even more impressive.
Messi’s first senior hat-trick remains one of the most famous performances of his early career.
At just 19, Messi scored three times against Real Madrid to rescue Barcelona in one of the most dramatic Clasicos of that era.
For almost two decades, no Argentine younger than Messi had managed a hat-trick in Europe’s five biggest domestic leagues.
Then Mastantuono arrived.
The youngest Argentines to score a top-five league hat-trick
Mastantuono now sits above some huge names in Argentine football.
Franco Mastantuono: 19 years, 28 days.
Lionel Messi: 19 years, 259 days.
Mauro Icardi: 19 years, 343 days.
Antonio Angelillo: 20 years, 17 days.
Gonzalo Higuaín: 20 years, 334 days.
Mastantuono is therefore not simply the youngest Fiorentina player on this list.
He is now the youngest Argentine in history to reach the milestone across the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Another Serie A record for Mastantuono
The Messi record was not the only historic achievement of the night.
Mastantuono also became the youngest foreign player to score a Serie A hat-trick.
At only 19, he has already written his name into Italian football history.
That makes the performance even more remarkable considering he only joined Fiorentina on loan from Real Madrid recently.
A huge moment after a difficult start
Mastantuono’s move to Italy was designed to give him regular football and a chance to continue his development.
The Argentine youngster had struggled to find consistent opportunities at Real Madrid.
His start in Florence was also relatively quiet.
But one match has suddenly changed the conversation around him.
Three goals.
A comeback victory.
Fiorentina’s first Serie A win of the season.
And a record previously held by Lionel Messi.
Mastantuono announces himself in Italy
Breaking a Messi record does not mean Mastantuono should immediately be compared with one of the greatest players in football history.
But the achievement shows the level of talent Argentina have in the 19-year-old.
Mastantuono has now produced the kind of performance that can completely change a young player’s season.
He arrived against Venezia without a Fiorentina goal.
He left with the match ball and a place in the record books.
A record that lasted 19 years is finally gone
Messi set the mark against Real Madrid in 2007.
It survived for more than 19 years.
Players including Icardi and Higuaín came close, but neither managed to beat it.
Mastantuono has now done it at 19 years and 28 days.
And he did not simply score three goals.
His hat-trick helped rescue Fiorentina from another difficult result and delivered their first Serie A victory of the season.
Franco Mastantuono started the night searching for his first Fiorentina goal.
He ended it with three goals, the match ball and a Lionel Messi record that had stood since 2007.
