Most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League: List

Scoring the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League is an elite level of footballing achievement that only a few have achieved. The UEFA Champions League is, without doubt, the most prestigious club competition in the world, with several top teams taking part in the competition, to win the trophy. There have been a plethora of great players who have played in the competition both in the present and past and here we take a look at seven players who have scored the most hat-tricks in the history of the tournament.

8. Neymar (3)

The Brazilian bagged his first Champions League hat-trick for Barcelona in a 6-1 triumph over Celtic on December 11, 2013. Ever since then, he's enjoyed prolific outings in Europe and has added two more to his name. Neymar's second UCL hat-trick was scored for Paris Saint-Germain against Red Star Belgrade on October 3, 2018. He also bagged another one for the Ligue 1 giants as they crushed İstanbul Basaksehir in the group stage last year. This season presents him with a chance to add more to his tally.

7. Luiz Adriano (3)

Despite not being as famous as the other players on this list, Brazilian forward Luiz Adriano has some incredible Champions League records to his name. The attacker has scored the highest number of goals in a single Champions League game (5), a record he shares with Lionel Messi. Adriano is also the first footballer to score back-to-back hat-tricks in the European tournament. The striker has a total record of three Champions League hat-tricks in his career, all scored during his time with Shakhtar Donetsk.

He bagged the first one against Nordsjælland on November 20, 2012. He then shocked the football world by scoring back-to-back hat-tricks versus BATE Borisov in 2014. It is unlikely we'll see the attacker participate in a UCL game anymore. He left Europe in 2019 to return to the Brazilian league, where he signed a four-year deal with Palmeiras.

6. Mario Gomez (3)

One of the most underrated strikers, Mario Gomez, has not got enough credit for his heroics with both Bayern Munich and Stuttgart. Gomez was very dangerous in front of the goal as he barely missed any chances that came to him, as he boasts a fantastic finishing rate. The striker has scored 26 goals from 40 appearances in the Champions League, including three hat-tricks.

The German played an integral role in 2013 when Bayern Munich went on to win the UCL. If Gomez had continued with Bayern, no doubt that he would've added more Champions League titles to his tally.

5. Filippo Inzaghi (3)

Italian legend Filippo Inzaghi established himself as one of Europe's most prolific forwards during his time with both ​Juventus and ​AC Milan. 'Super Pippo' racked up 46 goals in 81 Champions League appearances, netting a hat-trick on three occasions.

His first came in a 4-1 victory for Juventus over Dynamo Kyiv in 1998, and he notched up his second two years later in a 4-4 draw with Hamburger SV. Inzaghi moved to Milan in 2001 and netted his third hat-trick a year later in a 4-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna. With two Champions League titles to his name, Inzaghi deserves his place as one of the best in the history of the competition. 

4. Karim Benzema (4)

Karim Benzema continues to put on a show in the UEFA Champions League.

With another hat trick against Chelsea to put Real Madrid ahead 3-1 on aggregate after the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal series, Benzema added himself to several prestigious lists of Champions League hat-trick goal scorers.

And notably, he has become only the sixth player to score a hat trick in the Champions League quarterfinals.

In addition to adding his name to the short list of quarterfinal hat tricks, Karim Benzema became just the fourth player to ever score hat tricks in back-to-back Champions League games. Benzema joins a list with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Luiz Adriano.

3. Robert Lewandowski (6)

Arguably the best striker in the world at the moment, it is no surprise to see Robert Lewandowski on this list. The striker has been a beast in front of goal over the last few seasons. The Champions League is one of the competitions in which he always steps up to the plate.

The Polish international joined the UCL hat-trick group when he scored four goals for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in the 2013/2014 semifinals. After joining Bayern Munich, he bagged another one against Dinamo Zagreb on September 29, 2015.

Robert Lewandowski's most recent Champions League hat-trick came during the Bavarians' 6-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade on November 26, 2019. Lewandowski also scored the last two recorded hattricks in UCL against Benfica in 2021 and against RB Salzburg in March of 2022. With the striker still firing on all cylinders, he'll surely add more to his name before calling time on his career.

It was inevitable that Lewandowski would score in his UCL debut for Barca but to top it off with an a hat-trick against Viktoria Plzen in the first group stage match.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (8)

Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his first Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Ajax in 2012. Since then, he's also reached the feat against the likes of Galatasaray, Shaktar Donetsk, Malmo, Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid. It is worth noting that Ronaldo is the all-time scorer in the history of the tournament, with 135 goals to his name in 177 games.

1. Lionel Messi (8)

Lionel Messi became the first player in Champions League history to bag eight hat-tricks when he fired three past PSV Eindhoven on September 18, 2018. It is just proof of the Argentine's unmatchable brilliance in front of goal over the years.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner began his UCL hat-trick journey against Arsenal on April 6, 2010. Since then, the likes of Viktoria Plzen, Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax, APOEL, Celtic and Manchester City have also conceded three or more goals against the playmaker.

It is worth noting that Lionel Messi is the second-highest goalscorer in Champions League history, with a whopping 120 goals to his name in 149 appearances. With the Argentine still going strong, he will likely bag a couple more hat-tricks in the European tournament before hanging his boots and can truly retire as the player with the most hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are undoubtedly the greatest players of our generation and also the greatest ever to grace the most prestigious club competition by scoring the most hat-tricks in the Uefa Champions League.