Lewandowski Breaks Ronaldo Record With Nations League Hat-Trick

Robert Lewandowski has broken Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as the oldest player to score a hat-trick in UEFA Nations League history after inspiring Poland to a 6-0 victory over Romania.

The 38-year-old Poland captain scored three times in Warsaw on Friday, finding the net in the 24th, 47th and 86th minutes as his side secured their first victory of the current Nations League campaign.

Lewandowski was 38 years and 42 days old when he completed his treble, surpassing Ronaldo’s previous record of 34 years and 120 days. The Portugal captain had set the mark when he scored three goals against Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League semi-final.

The hat-trick was Lewandowski’s seventh for Poland and took his international goal tally to 92. The performance also came in his record-extending 170th appearance for the national team.

Lewandowski opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Romania defender Radu Dragusin was sent off for a tactical foul. The Barcelona striker doubled Poland’s advantage shortly after half-time before Virgil Ghita scored an own goal to make it 3-0.

Piotr Zielinski added Poland’s fourth in the 62nd minute, while Jan Bednarek headed in another four minutes later.

Lewandowski then completed his hat-trick four minutes from full-time, sealing Poland’s biggest victory of the campaign.

The result moved Poland to four points from three matches in Nations League League B Group 4, although they remain behind Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania are bottom of the group without a point.

The treble also strengthened Lewandowski’s standing among Europe’s leading international goalscorers, with his 92 goals for Poland placing him among the continent’s most prolific marksmen.

According to UEFA, Lewandowski is the latest player to join the list of Nations League hat-trick scorers. Ronaldo remains the only player to have scored a treble in the Nations League final tournament, doing so against Switzerland in 2019.

Despite his record-breaking display, Lewandowski will miss Poland’s next Nations League fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina after receiving his second yellow card of the campaign against Romania.

Poland will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday as they continue their campaign in League B.