In the world of football, scoring a hat-trick in a Champions League match is a feat that separates great players from true legends. The Champions League has witnessed countless moments of brilliance, but only a few players have consistently delivered three-goal hauls on the biggest stage in European football. In this article, we rank the top 10 players with the most Champions League hat-tricks based on their performances across clubs.
10. Michael Owen
- Hat-Tricks: 2 ( last completed vs Spartak Moscow (September 26, 2002) Liverpool 3–1 Spartak Moscow
- Club: Liverpool
- Notable Game: vs Spartak Moscow (2002)
- Years Active: 1996–2013
- Nationality: England
Michael Owen made his mark early in his career. One of his Champions League Hat-Tricks came in a memorable 2002 fixture against Spartak Moscow, showcasing his sharp finishing. Though his tally may seem modest, his performances during the early 2000s helped Liverpool remain competitive in Europe.
9. Kylian Mbappé
- Hat-Tricks: 3 ( last completed vs Barcelona (February 16, 2021) – PSG 4-1 Barcelona )
- Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid
- Notable Game: vs Barcelona (2021)
- Years Active: 2015–Present
- Nationality: France
Mbappé’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular. His first Champions League Hat-Trick came in a famous 4-1 away win against Barcelona in 2021. He has since added two more and continues to be a nightmare for defenders across Europe.
8. Neymar Jr.
- Hat-Tricks: 3 ( last completed vs İstanbul Başakşehir (December 8, 2020) – PSG 5-1 Başakşehir )
- Clubs: Barcelona, PSG
- Notable Game: vs Celtic (2013)
- Years Active: 2009–Present
- Nationality: Brazil
Neymar scored his first Champions League Hat-Trick for Barcelona against Celtic in 2013. His style, technique, and ability to score from any position have earned him a place among the elite scorers in the Champions League Hat-Tricks list.
7. Luiz Adriano
- Hat-Tricks: 3 ( last completed vs BATE Borisov (October 21, 2014) – Shakhtar 7-0 BATE )
- Club: Shakhtar Donetsk
- Notable Game: vs BATE Borisov (2014 – 5 goals)
- Years Active: 2007–Present
- Nationality: Brazil
Luiz Adriano stunned Europe when he scored five goals against BATE Borisov in 2014, which included a hat-trick in the first half. The underrated forward quietly built a strong Champions League resume during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Also READ: Top 10 Fastest Premier League Hat-Tricks of All Time
6. Mario Gomez
- Hat-Tricks: 3 ( last completed vs Basel (March 13, 2012) – Bayern 7-0 Basel )
- Club: Bayern Munich
- Notable Game: vs Basel (2012)
- Years Active: 2003–2020
- Nationality: Germany
Mario Gomez netted a clinical four-goal performance against Basel in 2012, one of his three Champions League Hat-Tricks. His power, aerial threat, and positioning made him a constant danger in the penalty box for Bayern Munich.
5. Filippo Inzaghi
- Hat-Tricks: 3 ( last completed vs Dinamo Zagreb (November 6, 2002) – AC Milan 3-0 Dinamo )
- Clubs: Juventus, AC Milan
- Notable Game: vs Dynamo Kyiv (1997)
- Years Active: 1991–2012
- Nationality: Italy
Inzaghi’s first Champions League Hat-Trick came with Juventus against Dynamo Kyiv in 1997. Known for being a goal-poacher, Inzaghi didn’t need flair—just the instinct to be in the right place at the right time.
4. Karim Benzema
- Hat-Tricks: 4 ( last completed vs Chelsea (April 6, 2022) – Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid )
- Club: Real Madrid
- Notable Game: vs Chelsea (2022)
- Years Active: 2005–Present
- Nationality: France
Benzema’s hat-trick against Chelsea in the 2022 quarter-finals reaffirmed his clutch reputation. The Frenchman has been Real Madrid’s go-to man in crucial knockout matches, helping the club maintain its Champions League dominance.
3. Robert Lewandowski
- Hat-Tricks: 6 ( last completed vs Red Bull Salzburg (March 8, 2022) – Bayern 7-1 Salzburg)
- Clubs: Dortmund (1), Bayern Munich (4), Barcelona (1)
- Notable Game: vs Red Star Belgrade (2019 – 4 goals in 14 mins)
- Years Active: 2006–Present
- Nationality: Poland
Lewandowski’s 2019 performance against Red Star, scoring four goals in 14 minutes, stands among the greatest Champions League displays ever. He’s the only player to score hat-tricks with three different clubs in this competition.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Hat-Tricks: 8 ( last completed vs Atlético Madrid (March 12, 2019) – Juventus 3-0 Atlético )
- Clubs: Real Madrid (7), Juventus (1)
- Notable Game: vs Atletico Madrid (2019 – Juventus)
- Years Active: 2002–Present
- Nationality: Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has built his Champions League legacy on big-game performances. One of his most iconic hat-tricks came in 2019 when he overturned a 2-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid with a treble in the second leg for Juventus.
1. Lionel Messi
- Hat-Tricks: 8 ( last completed vs Slavia Prague (October 23, 2019) – Barcelona 5-1 Slavia)
- Club: Barcelona
- Notable Game: vs Arsenal (2010)
- Years Active: 2003–Present
- Nationality: Argentina
Messi’s hat-trick against Arsenal in 2010, where he scored four goals, remains one of the most memorable Champions League nights. His consistency, dribbling, and eye for goal have earned him a joint-record for the most Champions League Hat-Tricks.
FAQs
Q1: Who holds the record for the most Champions League hat-tricks?
A1: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both hold the record for the most Champions League hat-tricks, with 8 each.
Q2: Which players have scored 3 or more Champions League hat-tricks?
A2: The top players with 3 or more Champions League hat-tricks include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, Filippo Inzaghi, Mario Gomez, Luiz Adriano, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé.
Q3: Has Lionel Messi scored Champions League hat-tricks for clubs other than Barcelona?
A3: No, all of Lionel Messi’s Champions League hat-tricks were scored while playing for Barcelona.
Q4: How many Champions League hat-tricks has Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Real Madrid?
A4: Cristiano Ronaldo scored 7 Champions League hat-tricks for Real Madrid and 1 for Juventus, totaling 8.
Q5: Who was the first player to score a Champions League hat-trick?
A5: The first player to score a Champions League hat-trick was [Player Name — e.g., Marco van Basten or a confirmed first scorer depending on your data].