The 5 Teenagers Who Have Scored a Hat-Trick in the Champions League

Rodrygo had been slowly growing his reputation at Real Madrid, but a stellar hat-trick against Galatasaray this week saw him go stratospheric.

Now, the 18-year-old's name is on everyone's lips, his perfect treble alerting the world to his tremendous talents. Los Blancos decimated the Turks 6-0 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, yet no one is paying too much attention to the result, or to Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos, who also got on the scoresheet.

It's all about Rodrygo, which seems appropriate, given the number of records he sent tumbling down. What a truly mesmerising night it was for the young man.

In homage to the Brazilian starlet, here's a look at the five teenagers who have scored a Champions League hat-trick.

5. Yakubu

Age at the Time: 19 Years & 306 Days

Yes, Yakubu was once a teenager! He may not have the baby face of Rodrygo, but he certainly had the skills to keep Maccabi Haifa in contention after they were drawn into a testing group in 2002/03.

The Israelis were up against Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos in the Champions League pool stages that season, Yakubu helping them down the Red Devils 3-0 at Haifa Stadium.

He grabbed his fourth of the tournament versus Sir Alex Ferguson's men, but his hat-trick came against the Greek side a month prior. That treble began with from the penalty spot, though the Nigerian's next two were far more spectacular.

In typical Yak fashion, the bustling forward swivelled, brushed off his marker like he was swatting a fly and coolly slid his shot under Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos. He then sealed a splendid evening with a cute chip over the goalkeeper, before nonchalantly volleying into a gaping net.

Despite Maccabi ultimately placing third in the standings and exiting early, their target man ensured it was a memorable campaign in Europe.

4. Erling Braut Haaland

Age at the Time: 19 Years and 58 Days

12 months ago, Erling Braut Haaland's biggest claim to fame was that his father is former Leeds United and Manchester City defender Alf-Inge. In the present day, Alf-Inge's biggest claim to fame is that his son is Erling.

Fresh from scoring nine goals in a match for the Norway Under-21s last summer, the Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid announced his arrival in the Champions League with a first-half hat-trick on his debut in the competition.

Genk were the unfortunate club who had to cope with the marksman that night, the Belgians going down 6-2 in Austria. Red Bull playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai teed up Haaland's opener with an audacious piece of skill, gliding past an opponent and sliding in his teammate.

The finish from Erling was unerring, as it was half an hour later when the striker found the bottom corner following a lightning counter-attack. On the stroke of half time, he nabbed his third, finding space in the box to redirect a low cross beyond the helpless keeper.

3. Wayne Rooney

Age at the Time: 18 Years and 339 Days

Just like Haaland, Wayne Rooney was on debut when he put his name up in lights. However, his Nordic counterpart will be hoping he doesn't match his Champions League hat-trick tally - Wazza never got another treble.

A devastating through ball carved open Fenerbahce's defence back in 2004, finding the striker in acres of room. It was a wondrous pass and there was the finish to match, the Englishman lifting a powerful drive over Rustu Recber to get his first ever United appearance off to a flyer.

Rooney soon made it a double as he ghosted past a would-be tackler, using a dummy to free up space for a long-range rifle into the far corner. It was a beautiful brace, but the best was still to come.

With the match about to reach the hour mark, the Everton youth product whipped a delicious free kick over the wall, watching it nestle in the back of Recber's net. The game ended 6-2 in favour of Fergie's recruits, though they could only secure second spot as Lyon topped the group.

2. Rodrygo

Age at the Time: 18 Years and 301 Days

Unlike anyone else on this list, Rodrygo is the only teen to have scored a perfect hat-trick. It began with a left-footed arrow that left Galatasaray's shot-stopper with zero chance, the €45m summer signing shimmying inside, having been found by Marcelo's dinked cross.

That was a mere four minutes into the encounter, and it took him just three more to collect his second of the night. His Brazilian compatriot was once again the provider, delivering an in-swinging ball that only needed a flicked header from the winger.

Rodrygo seemed set to miss out on the match ball as the game entered stoppage time, Real holding a five-goal lead. However, he was not to be denied, the South American steaming into the box to poke a deft shot past Fernando Muslera.

Of course, he wouldn't have been cutting it so fine if Sergio Ramos hadn't swooped in to take a penalty in the first half...

1. Raul

Age at the Time: 18 years and 114 days

Considering Raul was the most prolific scorer in Champions League history until Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's era of dominance, it's strange to think he only ever got one treble in the competition.

At least he guaranteed that hat-trick would go down in the record books, the Madrid icon giving his side a two-goal lead at lightning speed as he netted two goals in as many minutes against Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros during the 1995/96 season.

The first came as he nodded home following a corner, whilst the second was vintage Raul, the Spaniard angling his attempt across the goal after some classy ball control saw him escape his marker.

In the dying embers of the second half, he made it six for Real and three for himself with a ruthless blast through the keeper's legs. The defenders had failed to clear the danger, allowing the poacher supreme to send a fizzing effort back towards the goal.

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Source : 90min