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The UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the pinnacle of club football.
Year after year, Europe's elite battle it out for a spot in the Champions League group stages. The likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are regular faces in the competition.
Since the 2021-22 Champions League season got underway in September last year, we have seen some of the finest individual displays on Europe's biggest stage. Age is certainly not an object when it comes to the Champions League, a competition that has seen several veterans make history over the years.
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Here's a look at the oldest players to have scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League.
#5. Edin Dzeko | 32 years 6 months 15 days
Edin Dzeko represented Roma for five years between 2016 and 2021 and enjoyed great individual success with the club.
He has scored 85 league goals in 199 appearances for the club and sits third on the club's list of all-time top goalscorers.
The Bosnian was the man of the match when AS Roma defeated Victoria Plzen 5-0 in the group stages of the 2018-19 Champions League as he scored a hat-trick.
He was 32 years, 6 months and 15 days old at the time and takes fifth place on the list for the oldest players to have scored a UEFA Champions League hat-trick.
#4. Claudio Pizarro | 34 years 1 month 4 days
Claudio Pizarro is one of the most successful Peruvian players of all time.
The striker has represented Werder Bremen, Chelsea, FC Koln and Bayern Munich during his long and successful career. He signed for Bayern Munich on two different occasions, once between 2001 and 2007 and then later between 2012 and 2015.
Pizarro scored an incredible hat-trick for Bayern Munich against LOSC Lille in 2012. The Bavarians romped to a massive win against the French outfit, courtesy of Pizzaro's hat-trick.
Pizarro scored three goals within just 33 minutes and became one of the oldest players to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick. He was 34 years, 1 month and 4 days old at the time.
#3. Cristiano Ronaldo | 34 years 1 month 7 days
Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring record over his career has been heralded as one of the greatest individual accomplishments of all time.
The Portuguese attacker has represented Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United and Real Madrid as well in the past, but achieved this feat while playing for Juventus.
Ronaldo and Juventus found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first leg against Atletico Madrid, with an uphill task on their hands. With the Spanish outfit traveling to Italy for the second leg, Ronaldo put up one of the best individual performances of all time to take his team to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Ronaldo scored all three goals in his side's 3-0 triumph, ensuring that Juventus won 3-2 on aggregate.
#2. Olivier Giroud | 34 years 2 months 2 days
Olivier Giroud is one of the most underrated strikers in world football.
Giroud has represented Montpellier, Arsenal, AC Milan and Chelsea during his career. He has enjoyed his fair share of success over the years and has several trophies to his name.
Giroud was instrumental in Chelsea's victory over Sevilla during the group stages of last season's Champions League. Giroud scored not just three, but four goals as Chelsea demolished Sevilla in December 2020.
Chelsea went on to win the UEFA Champions League last season and Giroud certainly had his hand in the side's victory. With the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FA Cup and FIFA World Cup to his name, it is shocking that Giroud is not considered one of Europe's elite.
#1. Karim Benzema | 34 years 2 months 20 days
Karim Benzema will go down as one of the best players in Real Madrid's history.
The Frenchman signed for Los Blancos in 2009 and has been one of the ever-present figures in the side's successes over the years. Benzema has won three league titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and an incredible four UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
With Paris Saint-Germain carrying a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the round of 16 fixture this week, Real Madrid had all the odds against them as they went into the tie. Following Kylian Mbappe's first-half goal in the second leg, Real Madrid looked set to crash out at the hands of their opposition.
Benzema took it upon himself to turn things around and delivered an inspired performance to lead Real Madrid to a 3-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Winning 3-2 on aggregate, Benzema's exploits ensured that the Spanish heavyweights made it through to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
At 34 years, 2 months and 20 days old, Benzema also became the oldest player in UEFA Champions League history to score a hat-trick.
