Viktor Gyokeres matches Lionel Messi's unique record after hattrick vs Manchester City
Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has matched a record held by Lionel Messi following his hattrick against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday, November 5. The Sweden international powered his team to a historic 4-1 comeback win over the Premier League champions.
City went ahead through Phil Foden in the fourth minute at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but Gyokeres leveled the scores in the 38th minute. Maximiliano Araujo gave the Portuguese giants the lead a minute into the second half.
Gyokeres then scored two penalties (49' and 80') to secure all three points for his team. In doing so, he joined Lionel Messi and Christopher Nkunku as the only players to have scored a hattrick against Manchester City in the Champions League.
The Argentine ace was the first to achieve the feat in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Pep Guardiola's side in the group stages of the Champions League in 2016. It was the Spanish manager's first season in charge at the Etihad.
Chelsea's Nkunku, meanwhile, matched the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner in 2021 during his time with RB Leipzig. The Frenchman scored a hattrick at the Etihad but ended up on the losing side as Manchester City won 6-3.
Interestingly, Gyokeres' achievement marks the first hattrick by a Sporting player in Europe in 42 years. The last player to do so was Antonio Oliveira, who achieved the feat against Dinamo Zagreb in the European Cup in 1982.
How many goals has Lionel Messi scored against Manchester City?
Lionel Messi scored seven goals and set up three more from eight games against Manchester City in his career, all of which were in the Champions League. The Argentine superstar faced the English champions six times during his time with Barcelona.
The diminutive magician won five games and lost just once, scoring five goals. Lionel Messi eventually left the Catalan giants in the summer of 2021 and moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
He faced the Cityzens again in the 2021-22 Champions League campaign when both PSG and City were placed in Group A. The Ligue 1 champions won the home game 2-0, with the six-time European Golden Shoe winner scoring one goal.
However, Manchester City got the better of PSG at the Etihad, winning the group stage game 2-0.
The Barca legend currently plies his trade with Inter Miami in the MLS but has an enviable record in the Champions League. Messi has won the tournament four times, registering 129 goals and 40 assists from 163 games.