Franco Mastantuono's Hat-Trick Leads Fiorentina to Victory in Venice

Franco Mastantuono ripped up the script in Venice and rewrote a piece of Argentine football history.

The 19-year-old dragged Fiorentina to a 4-2 win over Venezia in Serie A’s fourth round, turning a tricky away night into his personal stage with a ruthless hat-trick.

Venezia struck first. Akor Adams fired the hosts in front on 22 minutes, and for a while Fiorentina looked rattled, second to loose balls and short of ideas in the final third.

Then Mastantuono caught fire.

He needed just seven minutes to flip the game. In the 29th minute he struck his first, and before Venezia could reset, he buried a second in the 30th. Two rapid, clinical finishes, two punches that stunned the home crowd and swung the momentum violently in Viola’s favour.

From there, Fiorentina played with a swagger that had been missing early on. The pressure mounted, the passes sharpened, and the third goal felt inevitable. It arrived on 66 minutes, Matteo Pellegrino finishing off a flowing move to give the visitors a cushion at 3-1.

Mastantuono wasn’t done.

As Venezia chased the game and left spaces, the on-loan Real Madrid midfielder picked his moment again. In the 84th minute he completed his hat-trick, sealing the points and etching his name into the record books.

Only then did Venezia find a late response, Antony Haino pulling one back for 4-2, a consolation that did little to change the story of the night.

According to ESPN, Mastantuono is now the youngest Argentine ever to score a hat-trick in one of Europe’s top five leagues, overtaking none other than Lionel Messi. At 19 years and 28 days, he achieved the feat 231 days younger than Messi was when the Barcelona legend hit his first treble against Real Madrid on 10 March 2007.

These were Mastantuono’s first goals for Fiorentina since arriving on a one-season loan from Real Madrid. Remarkably, the three strikes in Venice already match his entire tally from 35 appearances for the Spanish giants last season.

One night in Venice, and a teenager on loan has given Fiorentina a new star to build around—and given Madrid something to think about.