Young Franco Mastantuono, a 19-year-old on loan at Fiorentina from Real Madrid, just broke a record that belonged to Lionel Messi himself. On Sunday, he bagged a hat-trick against Venezia, making him the youngest Argentine ever to hit three goals in one of Europe's top five leagues. He didn't just break it; he smashed it.
Mastantuono was a mere 19 years and 28 days old when he accomplished this incredible feat. This makes him a whopping 231 days younger than the legendary Messi was when he first scored a hat-trick in a major European league. Talk about making an entrance!
Two of Mastantuono's goals flew in within just 108 seconds. This completely flipped the script as Fiorentina came from behind to beat Venezia 4-2. This win gave Fiorentina their first points of the season, and it's a performance that could signal a massive turning point for the young winger.
Things haven't exactly been smooth sailing for Mastantuono since he arrived in Italy. He's on loan from Real Madrid, who paid a hefty €45m to sign him from River Plate back in 2025. Fiorentina lost the first three games he played in. But this display? This is the kind of magic that made Real Madrid splash the cash.
Mastantuono spent last season with the big boys at Real Madrid, making 35 appearances. His tough first year in the Spanish capital, perhaps contributing to him missing out on Argentina's World Cup squad, means he's now plying his trade in Florence. This stellar performance, however, might just put him back on the national team's radar.
Back when he joined Real Madrid, he even picked the number 30 shirt – the same one Messi wore when he started his Barcelona career. He's never been shy about his admiration, calling the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner the 'best player in the world' during his presentation in Madrid.
When asked about his style, Mastantuono is humble. "I'm an offensive player, left-footed, right-footed… I don't like to describe myself; I prefer others to do it," he said. He's going to give it his all. He'll be there in whatever way he can to help the team. He also mentioned, "I'm here to help in any way I can, although I'm more accustomed to starting on the right and coming inside."
Messi's first hat-trick for Barcelona famously came against Real Madrid way back in 2007. That record stood for nearly 30 years. By the time Messi was done with his teenage years, he had already netted 30 goals for Barcelona. Mastantuono, while impressive, currently sits at 16 senior career goals. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, born just a month apart from Mastantuono, is already setting an even higher bar among teen sensations, having scored 54 goals for the Catalan club.