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After ten days of enthraling international football, we turn our focus back to club football once again. Most of the sides around the world were involved in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is now just over a year away.
Big guns like England, France and Italy saw mixed results, whereas Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and Germany, among others, came away unscathed. There were a lot of fine individual performances during this period as well.
On that note, here is a look at seven players who came up big for their teams with a hat-trick during the international break:
#7 Adam Buksa (Poland) vs San Marino
Poland's big victories normally involve their prolific striker Robert Lewandowski making a three or four-goal salvo. But in their recent 7-1 demolition of San Marino, new boy Adam Buksa garnered headlines for a hat-trick.
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Having scored on his international debut a few days earlier against Albania, the New England Revolution striker netted thrice away to La Serenissima in only his second Poland appearance.
Buksa came off the bench in the second half and added some gloss to the scoreline, which was already 4-1 in Poland's favour. He headed in two superb efforts before wrapping things up with a simple tap-in.
Considering the start to his international career, the 25-year-old might be the heir apparent to Robert Lewandowski'.
#6 Islam Slimani (Algeria) vs Djibouti
Remember when Leicester City made a spate of flop signings as defending Premier League champions in the summer of 2016. One of them was an Algerian striker from Sporting CP. His name is Islam Slimani, but regardless of his club form, he has been scoring a glut of goals for the Desert Foxes.
Last week, in a World Cup qualifier against minnows Djibouti, the striker netted four times in an 8-0 shellacking. That was the second time he registered a four-goal salvo in national colours.
Slimani was ruthless on the day, finishing his chances with the precision of a surgical knife. He also scored a good penalty as he led the way for one of Algeria's biggest-ever victories.
#5 Eran Zahavi (Israel) vs Faroe Islands
Israel haven't qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1970, the only time they have participated in the competition.
However, the side has been putting up a strong fight in Group F. There's a distinct possibility the Chosen team could end their international drought with only four qualifying games remaining.
That would've been possible without the blistering exploits of Eran Zahavi, the prolific PSV Eindhoven star. He has been relentless for his side in the current campaign, scoring six goals.
Last week, he bagged a hat-trick against the Faroe Islands, his fourth in national colours, taking the minnows to the cleaners with a fine individual performance.
Arguably the best Israeli player in modern history, Zahavi, 34, is their all-time top-scorer with 31 goals from 66 games.
#4 Memphis Depay (Netherlands) vs Turkey
Memphis Depay has made a whirlwind start to the 2021-22 season at his new club, Barcelona. He has netted twice and made one assist from three league games.
He then continued his rich vein of form onto the international stage too. Depay has scored five goals in three games, including a sensational hat-trick against Turkey in their second game.
The Oranje fired on all cylinders in Louis van Gaal's first game since returning to manage the side. Depay was at the heart of it, scoring a sublime 'Panenka' from 12 yards, as part of his hat-trick.
Despite netting 30 goals previously, he had never before bagged a hat-trick. Depay now stands just 17 goals behind Robin van Persie's all-time record of 50.
#3 Gareth Bale (Wales) vs Belarus
Gareth Bale got his career back on track with a successful loan spell back at his old club Tottenham Hotspur last season. With 16 goals in 34 games, including 11 in the league, the Welsh ace breathed new life into his career.
That translated onto the international stage on Sunday as Bale scored a hat-trick against Belarus. It was his second on the international stage, more than three years after his first in 2018.
After clinically dispatching two penalties, the Real Madrid star slotted home the winner in the 93rd minute with a powerful strike from a tight angle inside the box.
Just months after refusing to address questions about his Wales future, the Dragons captain turned back the year with a heroic performance. Bale now has 36 goals for his national team.
#2 Erling Haaland (Norway) vs Gibraltar
Erling Haaland's goalscoring prowess is well established by now. With a hat-trick against Gibraltar, he reminded everyone about his potential on the international stage too.
Before this game, Haaland had a fairly impressive record of nine goals in 14 games. That included a treble against Romania last year.
On Wednesday, Haaland was in inspired form once again. He netted twice in the first half to bring his international tally to double-digits, rounding off his second hat-trick in stoppage time.
The Terminator, as he's fondly called for his athleticism, pace and devastating finishing skills, is only just warming up. Considering his blistering start, Haaland could break all scoring records for Norway.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina) vs Bolivia
Without an international goal in three games, Lionel Messi redeemed himself with an incredible hat-trick against Bolivia on Friday. Those goals took him past Brazil legend Pele.
After chipping home a delicate volley and then producing a nonchalant finish under pressure, Messi brought up his treble by scrambling home a rebound off Leandro Paredes' shot.
That was his 78th international goal, surpassing Pele's long-standing tally of 77. Messi is now the most prolific scorer in CONMEBOL history.
At 34, La Pulga still has a few more years left at the top, which means he could further boost this tally.
