Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, has eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo to become the record holder of the oldest hat-trick scorer in UEFA Nations League history.
Lewandoski ran riot and produced a magnificent performance, scoring thrice in minute 24, 47 and 86 during Poland’s 6-0 pummelling over Romania at age 38, and has now outwitted Ronaldo who held the award following his three goals in the competition against Switzerland in 2019 edition’s semi final at age 34 and 120 days old.
The Chicago Fire player opened the scoring in the group A encounter from the penalty spot after Romania defender, Radu Drăgușin, was sent off for a tactical foul which led to a punishment of a shot from 12-yards which the record breaker latched into the net.
The team captain then doubled the advantage two minutes after half-time after he was found with a great vision pass from teammate, Nicola Zalewski, the former, then showing brilliant composure inside the box to bury the ball from close range in the back of the net.
Lewandoski scored his third and last goal of the encounter after he pounced on a loose ball inside the box and beats the opposition goalkeeper, Otto Hindrich, with a shot inside the right post to make it 6:0.
The feat recorded yesterday in Warsaw, Poland’s first win in this campaign of the competition also came in the striker’s record-extending 170th appearance for Poland and took his international goal tally to 92.
The striker’s previous hat-trick for Poland came against Latvia in October 2019, but will now miss his country’s next Nations League fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina after receiving a second yellow card of the campaign against Romania.
His latest treble also moved him further up the list of Europe’s leading international goalscorers, with his 92 goals for Poland placing him among the continent’s most prolific marksmen.
The result moved Poland to four points from three matches in Nations League League B Group 4, although they remain third behind Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania are bottom without a point.