Franco Mastantuono breaks Lionel Messi's record for youngest hat-trick in major leagues
The 19-year-old Argentine fired Fiorentina to a 4-2 win over Venezia, becoming the youngest Argentine to score a hat-trick in a top European league.
Franco Mastantuono has etched his name into the history books, becoming the youngest Argentine player to score a hat-trick in one of Europe's top leagues. In a thrilling Serie A matchday 4 encounter, the 19-year-old led Fiorentina to a 4-2 victory over Venezia.
At just 19 years and 28 days old, Mastantuono set a new benchmark. He surpassed the record previously held by Lionel Messi, who achieved his first hat-trick at 19 years and 259 days old. Mastantuono managed to break the record by more than seven months.
The performance was particularly significant as Fiorentina was entering a period of transition following the departure of head coach Fabio Grosso. Despite falling behind early, the club found their inspiration in the young forward, who netted twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick in the second to seal the result.
The historical ranking for Argentine hat-tricks in major European leagues now sees Mastantuono at the top, followed by Lionel Messi, Mauro Icardi (19 years, 343 days), Antonio Angelillo (20 years, 17 days), and Gonzalo Higuaín (20 years, 334 days).