Kylian Mbappé Advances to 4th Place
The Champions League represents the pinnacle of club football and is the most prestigious competition organized by UEFA. For players, only the World Cup rivals its significance, although it arguably holds a greater place in the hearts of fans worldwide. Established in 1955, the European Cup had its first champion in Real Madrid, who secured a thrilling 4-3 victory against the French club Reims in the inaugural tournament.
In 1992, the European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League, introducing group stages and placing greater emphasis on commercial appeal. Real Madrid remains the most successful club in the history of the tournament, boasting 15 titles. Throughout its history, the Champions League has showcased the biggest stars in football. Utilizing Transfermarkt’s extensive database, we’ve compiled a list of players with the most hat-tricks in this prestigious competition.
Most Hat-Tricks in Champions League History
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are undeniably the defining players of their generation and hold several records within the Champions League. The two legends are tied for the most hat-tricks, each achieving eight; however, Messi claims the top spot as he reached this milestone in fewer matches. The remarkable Argentinian achieved all his hat-tricks for Barcelona over 163 appearances in the competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League, has netted 140 goals in 183 matches. He recorded seven of his hat-tricks with Real Madrid and one with Juventus. Currently, Robert Lewandowski, still active at Barcelona, has a chance to catch up with six hat-tricks to his name. Kylian Mbappé recently scored his fourth hat-trick in the competition for Real Madrid against Kairat Almaty, placing him alongside fellow countryman Karim Benzema.
