After scoring a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City in the first leg of UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash, Federico Valverde etched his name into the record books.
Big feat for Federico Valverde
With his first-half hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu, Valverde became the second player ever to produce a hat-trick in the Champions League since Walter Pandiani in 2001.
Federico Valverde joins hands with Lionel Messi
Interestingly, the Uruguayan player became the second player ever to score a first half hat-trick in Champions League against an English club, since Lionel Messi in 2010.
In 2010, Lionel Messi dropped a masterclass against Arsenal, where the Argentine icon scored a first-half hat-trick in the second leg of UEFA Champions League quarter-final at Barcelona's Camp Nou.
How did Valverde reach the hat-trick?
The first half was needed by Valverde to complete his hattrick. In the 20th minute, Valverde made a massive run to receive a 70-yard long ball assist from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, to place it in spot.
Just seven minutes later, Valverede banked on a deflected pass from Vinicius Jr, while shooting from his "weaker" left foot, he launched a low clinical shot to double the lead.
In the 42nd minute, the Uruguayan player got a pass from Brahim Diaz, by chipping the ball over City's Marc Guehi and hammered a right-footed volley to reach his hat-trick.