The greatest UCL trebles vs Premier League giants as Valverde joins elite list | OneFootball

Federico Valverde stole the show with a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Manchester City in the Champions League this week.

Valverde's treble was the first hat-trick of his career and only the 11th time a footballer has scored aChampions League hat-trick against a Premier League team.

Manchester City have been on the wrong end of moreChampions League hat-tricks than any other English side, with Valverde the fifth footballer to claim a match ball against the Citizens in the competition.

We've revisited the best Champions League hat-tricks scored against Premier League teams.

Ronaldo vs Manchester United - 2002/03

One of the most memorable hat-tricks in Champions League history, Ronaldo produced an iconic performance as Real Madrid's Galacticos eliminatedManchester United in the 2002/03 quarter-finals.

Ronaldo had arrived from Inter Milan the previous summer, fresh from inspiring Brazil to World Cup success that summer.

The two-time Ballon d'Or winner was unstoppable in the second leg at Old Trafford, scoring three times to singlehandedly send the Spaniards into the next round.

O Fenômeno peeled away from Rio Ferdinand to drill in his first of the night, before tapping home Roberto Carlos's cross for a simple second.

He saved the best for last with a thump from distance to claim the match ball, in a gripping game that saw Manchester United edge a 4-3 thriller but bow out to the Brazilian's brilliance.

Tuncay Sanli vs Manchester United - 2004/05

One from the archives.

With qualification already assured, a second-string Manchester United were well beaten in Istanbul with Tuncay Sanli the architect of a famous Fenerbahce win.

The forward acrobatically volleyed an opener in off the underside of the crossbar, before meeting a cross to thump in a headed second. His hat-trick was completed with a calm finish past Tim Howard as the hosts ran out 3-0 winners.

Tuncay later had spells in the Premier League at Middlesbrough, Stoke City and Bolton.

Lionel Messi vs Arsenal - 2009/10

The first footballer to score four Champions League goals in a game against a Premier League team.

ALionel Messi masterclass put Arsenal to the sword at the Camp Nou, as the Barcelona superstar took control of the tie.

Arsenal opened the scoring in Barcelona to take the lead on aggregate, but a magnificent Messi performance pulled the Spaniards back into the game.

After flipping the script with two goals after Nicklas Bendtner's opener, Messi completed his hat-trick before half-time with an audacious lob. A stunning solo effort made it four late on.

Serge Gnabry vs Tottenham Hotspur - 2019/20

The ex-Arsenal winger returned to North London to haunt his old rivals in style.

Gnabry was in lethal mood asBayern Munich mauled Spurs in the capital, securing a 7-2 win. Incredibly, the German did not open his account for the night until after the break, becoming the first player ever to score four goals in the second half of a Champions League game.

Karim Benzema vs Chelsea - 2021/22

Karim Benzema was unstoppable for Real Madrid during the 2021-22 campaign.

He scored 15 goals in just 12 Champions League appearances as the Spanish side conquered Europe again.

That haul included back-to-back hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain andChelsea, the latter securing a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals.

The Ballon d'Or was fitting recognition of his performances.

Kylian Mbappe vs Manchester City - 2024/25

Kylian Mbappe might just be the most exciting footballer in the game when in the mood.

Mbappe's electric hat-trick against Manchester City in 2024-25 was certainly the Frenchman at his explosive best.

A brilliant lob opened his account at the Bernabeu, before Mbappe left Josko Gvardiol in the dirt with a smart chop and finish. He lashed a left-footed effort into the far corner to complete his hat-trick and seal Real Madrid's progress to the next round.

Every player to score a Champions League hat-trick against a Premier League team