When it comes to the UEFA Champions League, few achievements stir the imagination like the players with most hat tricks in UCL. To score three goals in one of Europe’s fiercest arenas is to etch your name in history. In this article, DeutKick will take you on a journey through the legends who turned Champions League nights into personal hunting grounds — and break down the records, the moments, and the context behind those iconic treble nights.
What Counts As A Hat Trick In The Champions League
Before diving into the names, let’s clarify: in the UCL context, a hat trick is when a player scores three goals or more in a single match. Importantly, that includes instances of 4 or 5 goals, which are considered extended hat tricks. Over the modern era (since UEFA rebranded the European Cup in 1992), there have been more than 165 hat-trick performances by over 110 players across the competition.
Notably, only a handful of players have managed to score multiple hat tricks in Champions League history — and fewer still have done so more than twice. Records are shaped not just by consistency, but by completing these feats in knockout rounds, against elite opposition, or even in consecutive matches.
Top All-Time: Who Has The Most UCL Hat Tricks?
When we examine the data, two names tower above the rest:
|
Rank |
Player |
Total UCL Hat Trick Matches |
Notes |
|
1 (tie) |
Lionel Messi |
8 |
Achieved in 163 UCL appearances. |
|
1 (tie) |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
8 |
Spread across 183 UCL matches for clubs. |
|
3 |
Robert Lewandowski |
6 |
Unique for scoring hat tricks for three different clubs. |
|
4 |
Karim Benzema |
4 |
Some of them came in knockout stages. |
|
5 |
Kylian Mbappé |
4 |
His recent hat trick lifted his tally. |
Messi and Ronaldo both stand on eight hat-trick matches, more than any other player in UCL history. The record is tied, though Messi technically reached it in fewer appearances, giving him a slight edge in efficiency.
Behind them, Lewandowski has six, and Benzema and Mbappé have four each. These players are joined by a wider group — Neymar, Luiz Adriano, Mario Gómez, Filippo Inzaghi, and others — who have managed this feat three times or more.
Legends Beyond The Top: Patterns & Highlights
Messi & Ronaldo: Kings of the Treble
Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance in this record is no accident. Both combined long careers in the Champions League, played in attacking roles, and often led teams that created chances.
- Messi achieved his eight hat tricks entirely while wearing the Barcelona shirt, across group stages and knockout rounds.
- Ronaldo’s were more varied: seven for Real Madrid and one during his stint at Juventus.
- Ronaldo holds the unique record of scoring three hat tricks in a single UCL season (2015–16), a feat unmatched by any other.
- They are also among the few to score hat tricks in back-to-back matches — Ronaldo famously did so in consecutive games against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid in 2017.
Robert Lewandowski’s Club Versatility
Lewandowski is remarkable for having achieved hat tricks while playing for three different clubs in UCL — Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. This shows not just consistency, but adaptation to different systems and leagues.
Benzema, Mbappé and the Emerging Threat
Karim Benzema’s four hat tricks include standout performances in critical knockout ties, where goals matter most. He also joined the rare club of players who scored hat tricks in consecutive UCL seasons.
Kylian Mbappé’s recent surge places him in a fascinating position. After notching his latest hat trick, he now matches Benzema with four in UCL history. At only 26–27 years old and active in the competition, Mbappé’s path might yet take him closer to Messi and Ronaldo territory.
The Broader Three-Time Club
Other names of interest include:
- Neymar — 3 UCL hat tricks (for Barcelona and PSG).
- Luiz Adriano — 3, and even twice scoring five in a match.
- Mario Gómez and Filippo Inzaghi — a rare feat in their own right given their eras and clubs.
This wider group underscores how rare even one UCL hat trick is; doing it multiple times elevates a player to a special class.
Context Matters: Stage, Opponent, and Timing
A hat trick in the group stage is impressive; one in a knockout tie or against a top-tier opponent is legendary. Some patterns that deepen the narrative:
- Only Messi and Lewandowski have scored more than one 4+ goal match in UCL.
- Only Messi, Luiz Adriano, and Erling Haaland have scored five goals in one UCL match.
- Ronaldo has scored more hat tricks in knockout stages than almost anyone else.
- Back-to-back hat tricks (in consecutive matches) are exceptionally rare: Ronaldo, Messi, Benzema, and Luiz Adriano are among that tiny list.
- Some players achieved hat tricks as substitutes — a dramatic twist on the feat.
These nuances show that raw totals, while important, don’t tell the full story. The timing and importance of each hat-trick add depth to a player’s UCL legacy.
Why This Record Captivates Fans
- Rarity: Over dozens of seasons and hundreds of matches, only ~165 hat-trick performances have ever occurred, by just over 110 players.
- Elite execution: Scoring three goals in one high-stakes match demands skill, focus, and often teamwork.
- Narrative weight: These performances often come in defining moments — quarterfinals, comebacks, or elimination battles.
- Legacies: The list aligns with the greatest names in football, reinforcing how hat tricks reflect sustained excellence.
- Momentum: For active players like Mbappé, the race continues — could we one day see a new champion of the players with most hat tricks in UCL?
Conclusion
Players with most hat tricks in UCL — a title shared by legends, earned in pressure-cooker moments, and one that still thrives with the rise of new stars. Messi and Ronaldo reign at the top with eight each, with Lewandowski, Benzema, and Mbappé trailing close behind on their own spectacular paths.
If you’re tracking Champions League records, itching to debate who might break this tie next, or want deep dives into hat trick matches — stick around DeutKick. Dive into our match reviews, player profiles, and stat-driven stories. Who will be the next to etch their name among the players with most hat tricks in UCL? The stage is set.
