Five oldest players to score hat-tricks in UEFA Champions League

These players have proved that age is just a number.

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) sees Europe's biggest teams face-off against each other on a regular basis. This makes it difficult for many players to stand out, especially as they enter into the twilight period of their careers. But, several stars have shown that age hasn't slowed them down, as they have managed to keep scoring despite being well into their thirties.

The UCL is one of the biggest football competitions in the world. Scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League is an incredible feat for any footballer. This is more so when they are well past their prime. But, these legends have showcased that age is just a number for them. Let’s have a look at the five oldest players to score a UCL hat-trick.

5. Edin Dzeko (32 years and 199 days)

The Bosnian footballer has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. He has represented the likes of AS Roma, Manchester City and Inter Milan among others. The forward has scored 25 goals in the Champions League in his career.

But, he has managed to net a hat-trick only once. It came for AS Roma against Viktoria Plzen. Edin Dzeko scored a treble in the Italians' 5-0 win in the 2017-18 season. This was the striker’s most prolific season in the competition. He netted eight times that season.

4. Claudio Pizarro (34 years and 34 days)

The Peruvian is a legend in the Bundesliga. He has played for some of the best clubs in Germany. But, the striker also shone on the European stage. He is one of the oldest hat-trick scorers in UCL history.

Claudio Pizarro’s only treble came against Lille in the 2011-12 season. He netted thrice in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 thrashing of the French side. The Peruvian has scored 21 times in the competition. Most of them have come for the Bavarians.

Pizarro won the Champions League with Bayern in the 2012-13 season. He also holds the record for being the oldest player to score a Bundesliga hat-trick.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (34 years and 35 days)

The Portuguese held the record for being the oldest hat-trick scorer in the UCL before being surpassed. Ronaldo achieved the feat against Atletico Madrid in March 2019. He netted a treble to help Juventus overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg. This was his last hat-trick in the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo owns multiple records in the Champions League. He has scored the joint-most hat-tricks in the competition. He is also the leading goalscorer in the UCL. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has also won the most titles in history.

2. Olivier Giroud (34 years and 63 days)

The Frenchman is second on the list. He was recently overtaken by Karim Benzema in the charts. Giroud’s hat-trick came in an away win for Chelsea. The striker netted all four goals in a 4-0 win over Sevilla in the 2020-21 season. This was his most prolific campaign in the competition.

Olivier Giroud has represented the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and AC Milan in the Champions League. He has scored 18 goals in the competition. His only title triumph came in 2021 with the Blues.

1. Karim Benzema (34 years and 80 days)

The Real Madrid star netted a hat-trick against PSG to achieve the feat. His strikes helped the Los Blancos overcome a two-goal deficit in the tie. The Frenchman also became the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history.

Karim Benzema has played a huge role in Real Madrid’s success in the Champions League. He has netted 79 goals in the competition – fourth-highest overall. The Frenchman has also won the title four times.

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