Ademola Lookman was the hero as his hat-trick secured a 3-0 win for Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles international lookman becomes only the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of a major European competition for an Italian side.
The victory cements Atalanta’s first-ever European title and their first major trophy since 1963.
Atalanta had lost in the final of the Coppa Italia against Juventus heading into Wednesday’s clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
But Lookman hattrick end Leverkusen’s dream of winning the treble unbeaten this season.
Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, also become the first African footballer to score more than two goals in the final of a major UEFA competition.
He also became the third Nigerian player to score in the final of a major UEFA competition, after Alex Iwobi (2019 Europa League) and Joe Aribo (2022 Europa League).
Meanwhile, The first player to score a hattrick for an Italian club was Pierino Prati in Milan against Ajax in the 1969 European Cup.
Also, Lookman’s hat-trick is the sixth to be scored in the final of a major UEFA competition, and the first since Jupp Heynckes’ for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup.
Sportsbeep 