NEYMAR joined an elite seven-man list of stars to have scored a hat-trick of Champions League hat-tricks on Wednesday night.
The Brazilian ace, 28, scored three times as Paris Saint-Germain beat Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1 at the Parc des Princes.
Just seven players have managed to score a hat-tricks of CL hat-tricks
Neymar scored his third Champions League hat-trick as PSG beat Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1Credit: EPA
The final Group H match was delayed by 24 hours after the fourth official was accused of racially abusing Istanbul assistant Pierre Webo.
After the players knelt around the centre-circle before Wednesday evening’s restart, Neymar came out of the blocks flying.
The former Barcelona star opened the scoring by nutmegging his defender and curling his effort into the back of the net.
Neymar polished off a well-worked counter-attack for his second, before completing his hat-trick with a 20-yard effort.
In doing so he became part of an elite group to secure a hat-trick of Champions League hat-tricks.
Former Shakhtar Donetsk star Luiz Adriano also scored three hat-tricks during his career.
In 2014-15, Adriano equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most group stage goals with nine.
Eight of those goals game across two games with BATE Borisov – scoring five times away, before adding a further three in the home clash.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored eight CL hat-tricks during his time at Real Madrid and JuventusCredit: Reuters
Messi has also managed eight Champions League trebles for BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
Ronaldo would break that record just a year later with 11 goals after netting four against Malmo.
Ronaldo and Adriano are the only two players in Champions League history to score hat-tricks in back-to-back games.
The Portuguese star managing the feat in the 2016-17 knockout stages against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
AC Milan legend Filippo Inzaghi also managed three Champions League trebles, along with ex-Bayern Munich star Mario Gomez and current star Robert Lewandowski.
But the final two hat-trick heroes are miles ahead… and if you haven’t guessed, it’s Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.
Both players have managed a staggering EIGHT Champions League hat-tricks during their illustrious careers.
Ronaldo came close to making it No9 against Messi’s Barcelona on Tuesday night too.
The Portuguese legend scored twice in the 3-0 win as Juventus topped the group, leaving Barca with a trickier last-16 tie.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
