Franco Mastantuono scored a hat-trick as Fiorentina beat Venezia 4-2 on Friday, becoming the youngest player to score three goals in a Serie A match for the club and earning a perfect 10 rating from Flashscore.
The 19-year-old Argentine, on loan from Real Madrid, also surpassed Lionel Messi’s record as the youngest Argentine to score a hat-trick in one of Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues. Mastantuono achieved the feat 235 days younger than Messi was when he set the record in 2007.
His performance came after a difficult start to the season for Fiorentina. Despite spending heavily on new signings during the summer, La Viola lost their opening three Serie A matches and had a goal difference of 1:9.
The club responded by replacing Fabio Grosso with Paolo Vanoli last week, and the change was followed by an immediate victory.
Fiorentina fell behind in the 22nd minute at Venezia when Akor Adams scored, but Mastantuono turned the match around with two goals in the space of two minutes.
Both strikes followed a similar pattern. The forward moved in from the right towards the centre before sending a left-footed effort from outside the penalty area into the corner. One shot went in off the right post, while the other found the left corner.
Mastantuono completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute to put Fiorentina 4-1 ahead. His initial attempt was saved, but the ball rebounded off his face and flew back past the helpless goalkeeper.
The goals brought several milestones. At 19 years and 28 days old, Mastantuono became the youngest Fiorentina player to score a hat-trick, beating the previous record held by Claudio Desolati.
He is also now the youngest foreign player to score three times in a Serie A game.
His display extended beyond his finishing. Mastantuono attempted eight shots, with five on target, and his expected goals (xG) figure of 1.21 rose to an expected goals on target (xGOT) total of 2.65.
He tried five dribbles and completed three, while also contributing to Fiorentina’s attacking build-up. The Argentine created four shots, played one through ball and supplied one big chance.
Mastantuono completed 22 of his 26 passes and recorded 54 touches, while his expected assists figure stood at 0.27.
He also contributed defensively, winning six of his 13 duels, or 46%, and being fouled twice. He intercepted one pass and recovered possession five times.
Despite missing one big chance and failing to win any of his three aerial duels, Mastantuono was awarded Flashscore’s highest possible rating of 10 for an all-round display.