In the electrifying theatre of the Champions League, goals arrive in seconds, momentum swings in a heartbeat—and legends are born in flashes. Yet even in this realm of high drama, one moment stands alone. The fastest hat trick in UCL history belongs to a benchmark-breaking cameo, a burst of finishing so sharp it left even hardened skeptics stunned. Today, DiorDribble will escort you through the drama, the data, and the top moments that define this record.
The record: when and how it happened
On 12 October 2022, Liverpool visited Rangers at Ibrox in a Group Stage match of the Champions League. Coming off the bench in the second half, Mohamed Salah completed a hat trick in just 6 minutes and 12 seconds—officially the fastest hat trick ever recorded in the competition.
He scored in the 75th, 80th, and 81st minutes. That means his first strike came seven minutes after entering the pitch, and then two more in rapid succession inside the final 12 minutes. trtworld.com])
It’s not only the fastest hat trick in UCL history—it is also the fastest treble by a substitute in Europe’s elite competition. ikipedia]), the feat is all the more remarkable: Salah had only nine touches of the ball in that appearance, and one-third of those touches ended up in the net.
Past holders and close contenders
Before Salah’s whirlwind, several names had etched themselves in UCL lore with rapid trebles:
- Bafétimbi Gomis previously held the record with an 8-minute hat trick for Lyon against Dinamo Zagreb in December 2011 (7-1 win).
- Mike Newell scored in 9 minutes for Blackburn v Rosenborg back in December 1995.
- Raheem Sterling managed an 11-minute hat trick for Manchester City against Atalanta in October 2019.
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick in 11 minutes with Real Madrid vs Malmö (8-0) in December 2015.
- Robert Lewandowski has multiple lightning trebles: one in 11 minutes for Bayern vs Salzburg (March 2022) and another in 12 minutes vs Crvena Zvezda (November 2019).
- Luiz Adriano also posted a 12-minute hat trick for Shakhtar Donetsk over BATE Borisov (October 2014).
While all these are elite feats, none dared challenge what Salah eventually delivered.
Why this record is exceptional
1. Efficiency and minimal touches
Scoring three times with just nine touches is staggering at this level. That’s one goal for every three touches—a strike rate few forwards could dream of.
2. Impact as a substitute
Coming off the bench and immediately reshaping a match—that’s rare. Even more so to pull off a hat trick in record time. Salah’s is considered the fastest UCL hat trick by a substitute.
3. Breaking long-standing expectations
The previous record (8 minutes) had stood for over a decade. For many fans and analysts, that seemed nearly untouchable in the UCL’s pressure-cooker environment. Salah obliterated that with authority.
4. Match context and dominance
Liverpool won convincingly, 7–1, and Salah’s burst turned what was already a strong game into a spectacle. The record is not just about timing—it’s about context and flow.
Top 8 fastest UCL hat tricks (for context)
Here’s a curated list of the fastest hat tricks in the UEFA Champions League era:
| Rank | Player | Time Span | Match & Season |
| 1 | Mohamed Salah | 6m 12s | Liverpool vs Rangers, 2022–23 |
| 2 | Bafétimbi Gomis | ~8m | Lyon vs Dinamo Zagreb, 2011–12 |
| 3 | Mike Newell | ~9m | Blackburn vs Rosenborg, 1995–96 |
| 4 | Raheem Sterling | ~11m | Man City vs Atalanta, 2019–20 |
| 5 | Cristiano Ronaldo | ~11m | Real Madrid vs Malmö, 2015–16 |
| 6 | Robert Lewandowski | ~11m | Bayern vs Salzburg, 2021–22 |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | ~12m | Bayern vs Crvena Zvezda, 2019–20 |
| 8 | Luiz Adriano | ~12m | Shakhtar vs BATE Borisov, 2014–15 |
These names and times are drawn.
Records related to hat tricks in UCL
To deepen the picture, here are related records in the Champions League and how Salah’s feat sits among them:
- Fastest hat trick from kickoff: 23 minutes, by Lewandowski for Bayern vs Salzburg (March 2022).
- Most hat tricks scored in the Champions League overall: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (8 each).
- Players scoring hat tricks for multiple clubs: Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Inzaghi, etc.
- Youngest ever UCL hat trick: Raúl, aged 18 years and 113 days (vs Ferencváros, October 1995).
- Oldest: Karim Benzema, 34 years and 108 days.
Together, these show that while speed is a mesmerizing metric, longevity, consistency, and breadth over clubs are equally parts of the broader hat-trick tapestry.
What this means for Salah’s legacy
Mohamed Salah’s lightning treble doesn’t just stand as a statistical curio—it asserts narrative power. Many people remember UCL records by longevity or sheer volume, but few by instantaneous brilliance. This moment elevates Salah not only as a prolific scorer, but as a player capable of the extraordinary when it matters.
For Liverpool fans, it’s a touchstone—one more jewel in a crown of European nights. For neutrals, it’s a reminder: sometimes, greatness is measured in six-minute bursts rather than seasons.
Salah’s record also continues to set the bar for future challengers. Given how tight defenses are in Europe, replicating or beating that 6m12s will require an ideal convergence of form, space, and clinical finishing.
Conclusion
The fastest hat trick in UCL history remains Mohamed Salah’s masterclass of 6 minutes and 12 seconds, delivered as a substitute against Rangers. It’s a record forged in brilliance, efficiency, and boldness. At DiorDribble, we celebrate moments just like this—where football’s speed, drama, and genius collide.
If you’re hungry for more stories like this—player biographies, match breakdowns, or record-chasing feats—stay tuned. And if you want to dig into other UCL legends or fastest-goal lists, just ask—DiorDribble is always ready to dive into the next epic.
