Page 3 - Meet the debutants to have scored Champions League hat-tricks

#3 Yakubu (Nigeria)

Yakubu scored three goals for Maccabi Haifa against Olympiacos in a 2002-03 group game.

In the process, the Nigerian became the first teenager (fourth overall) since Raúl to score a Champions League hat-trick.

It was the 33rd hat-trick in the competition and the first by an African player as Maccabi Haifa became the first club from Israel to register a Champions League hat-trick.

#2 Faustino Asprilla (Colombia)

Faustino Asprilla provided the 12th hat-trick of the Champions League when he scored three goals for Newcastle United against Barcelona in a 1997-98 group game.

The goals made Asprilla the first South American after Romário to score thrice in a Champions League game as Newcastle became the tenth different club (second English club) to score a Champions League hat-trick.

Asprilla and Shevchenko (also in 1997-98) are the only players to score a Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona.

#1 Marco van Basten (Netherlands)

Milan legend Marco van Basten scored the third hat-trick of the Champions League when he netted all four goals in Milan's 4-0 win over IFK Göteborg in a 1992-93 group game.

In the process, van Basten joined compatriot Juul Ellerman, scorer of the first Champions League hat-trick, as the second Dutchman to score three goals in the competition's inaugural edition.

It would be seven seasons later before another player, Simone Inzaghi of Italy, scored four times in a Champions League game for Lazio against Marseille.

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Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Zaid Khan