Wednesday, 6 November was a night to remember for 18-year-old Rodrygo Goes, who bagged a perfect hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 6-0 Champions League win over Galatasaray.
The young Brazilian who joined from Santos for around €45m this summer has impressed with his start to life under the microscope at the Bernabeu.
In four outings in La Liga so far, he has two goals. However, it was his second Champions League appearance where he announced himself to the world.
The forward scored twice in the opening seven minutes on Wednesday, beautifully converting crosses from compatriot Marcelo, to open the floodgates against Galatasaray.
Madrid went on to take a 5-0 lead (courtesy of a Sergio Ramos penalty and Karim Benzema double) with seconds left of stoppage time in the second half. Then, with almost the last touch of the match, Rodrygo made Champions League history as he slotted home from Benzema’s through ball to make it six and complete his hat-trick.
In doing so, he became the youngest ever player to score a perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) in the competition at just 18 years 301 days.
The youngest players to achieve a perfect hat-trick in the Champions League:
18-301 RODRYGO GOES
20-306 Kylian Mbappé
22-312 Michael Owen
22-354 Karim Benzema
24-060 Harry Kane
24-237 Samuel Eto’o— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) November 6, 2019
Rodrygo also became the youngest Brazilian ever to score in the Champions League, overtaking Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos (19 years and 126 days, vs Olympiakos). By definition, he is also the youngest Brazilian to score a hat-trick.
In Real Madrid terms, Rodrygo is, however, only the second-youngest player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League following club legend Raul, who scored his at 18 years and 113 days against Hungarian side Ferencvaros back in 1995.
Speaking to Movistar after the game (via Marca), Rodrygo revealed how his dream came true at the Bernabeu.
“I’m happy and it’s a very happy night b
“It’s a dream come true to hear the Bernabeu sing my name.”
The night might have been even more special for the young Brazilian however, had club captain Ramos stood aside for the penalty in the 14th minute.
Marco Simone logró un hat-trick a los 24 minutos de un Rosenborg-Milan de 1996. Es el triplete más tempranero en TODA la historia de la Champions. Rodrygo podría haber destrozado hoy un récord histórico, pero Ramos no le ha dejado (aunque el público del Bernabéu se lo ha pedido).
— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) November 6, 2019
Had Rodrygo stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick (as some in the Bernabeu crowd called out for), he would’ve smashed the record for the competition’s fastest ever hat-trick.
With Ramos ignoring the sentiment of the crowd, the record remains at 24 minutes (AC Milan’s Marco Simone vs Rosenborg in 1996).
Let’