Despacito is YouTube's most viewed video after just seven months

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s summer's hit music video “Despacito” on Friday crossed two major milestones: becoming the most-watched YouTube video of all time and being the first to hit 3 billion views on the streaming service.

YouTube made the announcement on Friday after the Latin American ubiquitous song by Luis Fonsi's and Daddy Yankee clocked up almost three billion views (2,993,786,682), surpassing previous record holder “See You Again,” the song by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth from the “Furious 7” soundtrack.

Despacito” became an international smash hit this year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The record-breaking video does not include the popular remix with Justin Bieber; that version has been viewed more than 464 million times.

Despacito” is on track to become the first video to reach three billion views on YouTube. The video is also the most “liked” video on YouTube.

The Guardian newspaper last month reported that it had become the world's most streamed video ever, with more than four billion streams across all major platforms.

The news adds to a big day of achievements for the artists, whose remix of the song in collaboration with Justin Bieber was named UK number one for an 11th week.

Only Slim Whitman's 1955 track Rose Marie has logged as many weeks in pole position in the Official Charts' 65-year history.

A version of the video featuring the Purpose star has so far received more than 464 million YouTube views.