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Karim Benzema sent Madrid into jubilation, and etched his name into the history books, with a brilliant hat-trick to send Real Madrid through at the expense of PSG in the Champions League last 16.
Seemingly dead and buried at 2-0 down thanks to a pair of Kylian Mbappe goals, Benzema scored 3 times in 17 minutes as the Parisians fell apart, allowing the Frenchman to turn the tie back in Real Madrid’s favour and ultimately send Los Blancos into the quarter-finals of the competition.
KARIM BENZEMA COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK!!
Two goals in a minute! This game is insane 😱
Striker’s instinct, what a brilliant finish!#UCL pic.twitter.com/KSpM3BvKyF
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 9, 2022
In doing so, he became the oldest player in the history of the competition to net a hat-trick, surpassing Olivier Giroud, who netted four times against Sevilla while in Chelsea blue.
‘3 – At 34 years and 80 days, @realmadrid striker Karim Benzema 🇫🇷 has become the oldest player to score a hat-trick in @LigadeCampeones history, surpassing Olivier Giroud 🇫🇷 against Sevilla in December 2020 (four goals). Heroic.’
3 – Con 34 años y 80 días, el delantero del @realmadrid, Karim Benzema 🇫🇷, se ha convertido en el jugador con más edad en marcar un hat-trick en la historia de la @LigadeCampeones, superando a Olivier Giroud 🇫🇷 ante el Sevilla en diciembre de 2020 (cuatro goles). Heroico. pic.twitter.com/vaiU5uiKoA
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 9, 2022
Spearheading a new attack come June?
It was always thought that a French striker would dominate the headlines, but compatriot Benzema stole Mbappe’s limelight as the young star found the net on three occasions in the second leg, only to see two ruled out for offside.
Mbappe seems more likely than ever to join Benzema in Madrid when his contract runs out in the summer, and will form perhaps the most dangerous trio in world football when Vinicius Junior is thrown into the mix too.
For now, however, it is Benzema firmly in the limelight.