Lionel Messi scores hat-trick on his 36th birthday including stunning free kick

Lionel Messi marked his 36th birthday with a stunning hat-trick for Argentina in an exhibition match against Newell's Old Boys.

Messi returned to the city of his birth, Rosario, to play in the match, and got an incredible reception from the fans in attendance.

The fixture was played as a farewell match for former Newell's and Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez, who retired from football aged 42 earlier this year.

Rodriguez played for his nation at three World Cups, and represented Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Espanyol in European football.

His farewell match featured some iconic names from modern Argentinian football, including Gabriel Batistuta, Walter Samuel, Pablo Aimar and current Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Once the game kicked off, it took Messi, who spent five years in the Newell's youth system between 1995 and 2000, just four minutes to open the scoring - and he did so in some style.

Lionel Messi scores superb hat-trick

Argentina won a free kick from just over 20 yards out, with Messi standing over it. And in trademark Messi fashion, he placed the ball over the wall with precision and in the corner of the net.

Goal number two came on 35 minutes, when the 36-year-old ran through on goal and calmly lifted the ball over the stranded goalkeeper.

And the third goal was simply clinical. Rodriguez found Messi with a lofted through ball, with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner chesting it down and controlling it on the turn before firing into the opposite corner.

Messi's Hat-Trick vs Newell's. pic.twitter.com/drJKgRx9sr

— SB15460 (@SB15460) June 25, 2023

Prior to the game, the footballing icon was introduced to the crowd in attendance by an MC, before the stadium serenaded Argentina's most famous person with a rendition of 'happy birthday'.

Messi went on to spend part of his birthday doing what he does best - scoring goals - and said in an interview with ESPN SportsCenter after the game that it is "always beautiful" to be back in Rosario.

The forward is still contracted to Paris Saint-Germain, but that deal will expire in five days' time. Messi will then move on to MLS franchise Inter Miami from July.

The Miami crowd will be hoping he can continue scoring free kicks such as the one against Newell's for a long time to come in the United States.