Uthman Olagoke
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.
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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.
