Messi scores hat-trick on birthday return to Newell's Old Boys

Lionel Messi scored a superb hat-trick for Argentina on his return to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys.

Messi returned to Rosario for the testimonial of ex-international team-mate Maxi Rodriguez, along with the likes of Angel Di Maria and a host of former Argentina national team stars. Messi was initially serenaded with a chant of happy birthday from the crowd, and then did what he does best, scoring a hat-trick, including an absolutely sublime free-kick.

Lionel Messi is back in his hometown Rosario and the whole stadium sang happy birthday. 💙

🎥 @SC_ESPN pic.twitter.com/a55hx6CF3o

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 24, 2023

¡¡EL PRIMER GOL DEL PARTIDO ES UNA MARAVILLA DE LEO MESSI, EL MÁS GRANDE DE LA HISTORIA!!

📺 #GraciasMaxienStarPlus | #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/F8q0iXsUhX

— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) June 24, 2023

Messi lived in Rosario and played in the Newell's academy ranks as a child before moving to Barcelona, and his first goal at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa came after just four minutes. He went on to score a brilliant chip, and later got on the end of a long ball before finishing coolly, all before half-time. Messi had been linked with a return to Newell's earlier this year, but he recently confirmed that he will be heading to MLS when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires on June 30.

 Messi is poised to head to the United States to kick off his Inter Miami career, with his debut set to come in a Leagues Cup clash against Mexican club Cruz Azul on July 21.