NEYMAR joined an elite seven-man listing of stars to have scored a hat-trick of Champions League hat-tricks on Wednesday evening.
The Brazilian ace, 28, scored thrice as Paris Saint-Germain beat Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1 on the Parc des Princes.
Simply seven gamers have managed to attain a hat-tricks of CL hat-tricks
Neymar scored his third Champions League hat-trick as PSG beat Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1Credit score: EPA
The ultimate Group H match was delayed by 24 hours after the fourth official was accused of racially abusing Istanbul assistant Pierre Webo.
After the gamers knelt around the centre-circle earlier than Wednesday night’s restart, Neymar got here out of the blocks flying.
The previous Barcelona star opened the scoring by nutmegging his defender and curling his effort into the again of the online.
Neymar polished off a well-worked counter-attack for his second, earlier than finishing his hat-trick with a 20-yard effort.
In doing so he grew to become a part of an elite group to safe a hat-trick of Champions League hat-tricks.
Former Shakhtar Donetsk star Luiz Adriano additionally scored three hat-tricks throughout his profession.
In 2014-15, Adriano equalled Cristiano Ronaldo‘s file for many group stage objectives with 9.
Eight of these objectives recreation throughout two video games with BATE Borisov – scoring 5 instances away, earlier than including an additional three within the dwelling conflict.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored eight CL hat-tricks throughout his time at Actual Madrid and JuventusCredit score: Reuters
Messi has additionally managed eight Champions League trebles for BarcelonaCredit score: Reuters
Ronaldo would break that file only a yr later with 11 objectives after netting 4 towards Malmo.
Ronaldo and Adriano are the one two gamers in Champions League historical past to attain hat-tricks in back-to-back video games.
The Portuguese star managing the feat within the 2016-17 knockout phases towards Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
AC Milan legend Filippo Inzaghi additionally managed three Champions League trebles, together with ex-Bayern Munich star Mario Gomez and present star Robert Lewandowski.
However the closing two hat-trick heroes are miles forward… and if you have not guessed, it is Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.
Each gamers have managed a staggering EIGHT Champions League hat-tricks throughout their illustrious careers.
Ronaldo got here shut to creating it No9 towards Messi’s Barcelona on Tuesday evening too.
The Portuguese legend scored twice in the 3-0 win as Juventus topped the group, leaving Barca with a trickier last-16 tie.
