Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick to win the Europa League for Atalanta on Wednesday evening against Leverkusen. Only four players in the history of European Cups have ever scored three goals in the final!
Author of an incredible hat-trick, Ademola Lookman completely stunned Bayer Leverkusen to offer the 2024 Europa League to Atalanta Bergamo (3-0), Wednesday evening in Dublin. The Nigerian winger, 26, was exceptional. After having the score on a service from Davide Zappacosta, the former Leicester player went to score alone, all powerfully, all unconsciously, the other two goals of the Dea, in the middle of the first period (26th) and at a quarter of an hour from the end (75th).
Lookman is not only the first African to score at least two goals in a European Cup final. Above all, he becomes only the fifth player in history (!) to score a hat-trick in a European Cup final. His performance is historic, especially since the last hat-trick was almost half a century ago! A hat-trick from Jupp Heynckes allowed Mönchengladbach to win the UEFA Cup (renamed the Europa League) in 1975 against Twente (0-0, 1-5).
Lookman joins Di Stefano and Puskas!
Four hat-tricks in European finals have been scored in the Champion Clubs’ Cup (renamed Champions League). Football legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas each scored three goals in the 1960 C1 final with Real Madrid against Frankfurt (7-1). Puskas achieved this personal feat a second time, still with the Merengues, but during a defeat against Benfica (5-3), in 1962.
Finally, the Italian Pierino Prati, by scoring a hat-trick, allowed AC Milan to become European champion for the second time in its history in 1969, against Ajax (4-1).
