Nigerian international Ademola Lookman has cemented his place in European football history by scoring a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 26-year-old was Atalanta’s standout player in Wednesday’s match, leading the Italian side to their first major European trophy with a commanding 3-0 victory.
Atalanta entered the Europa League final on a strong run, having lost only once in their previous nine matches. That single defeat came against Juventus in the Coppa Italia final, where they narrowly missed out on the trophy.
Ademola Lookman sets 7 Records
With his hat-trick, Lookman has joined an elite group of Nigerian players who have scored in the final of a major UEFA competition. This victory also marks his first major trophy at the senior level, a significant milestone in his nine-year professional career.
Throughout the Europa League campaign, Lookman set and broke several records. Here’s a closer look at his achievements by Daily Report NG:
- First Senior Trophy: Lookman secured his first major trophy by winning the Europa League with Atalanta.
- Hat-Trick Hero: He became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final since 1975, including the UEFA Cup.
- Atalanta’s Historic Scorer: Lookman was the first to score a hat-trick for Atalanta in a European final.
- Record for Italian Clubs: He became the first player from any Italian club to score three goals in the final of a European competition.
- Fastest Double: Lookman set the record for the fastest two goals in a Europa League final, achieving this feat in just 26 minutes.
- Nigerian Milestone: He was the first Nigerian to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
- African Achievement: Lookman also became the first African to score a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
Lookman’s remarkable performance has not only earned him a place in football history but has also brought Atalanta their first major European triumph.
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