Robert Lewandowski became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in UEFA Nations League history, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s record as Poland thrashed Romania 6-0 on Friday, World Soccer reported.
The 38-year-old Poland captain struck in the 24th, 47th and 86th minutes to secure his country’s first Nations League victory of the campaign in Warsaw.
The treble came in Lewandowski’s record 170th appearance for Poland and took his international goal tally to 92. The Polish Football Association also confirmed it was his seventh hat-trick for the national team.
Lewandowski surpassed Ronaldo’s previous record, set when the Portuguese star was 34 years and 120 days old during Portugal’s 2019 Nations League semi-final against Switzerland.
The Barcelona forward opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Romania defender Radu Drăgușin was sent off for a tactical foul.
He doubled Poland’s lead shortly after half-time before Virgil Ghiță put the ball into his own net in the 49th minute. Piotr Zieliński added a fourth in the 62nd minute, while Jan Bednarek headed in Poland’s fifth four minutes later.
Lewandowski completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute to round off Poland’s biggest win of the campaign.
The victory lifted Poland to four points from three matches in Nations League League B Group 4, leaving them third behind Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Romania remain bottom without a point.
Lewandowski’s latest treble also strengthened his position among Europe’s leading international scorers, with 92 goals for Poland. His previous international hat-trick came against Latvia in October 2019.
Despite his record-breaking display, Lewandowski will miss Poland’s next Nations League match against Bosnia and Herzegovina after picking up his second yellow card of the campaign.
Poland travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday as they continue their push for promotion to Nations League League A.