Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles and Atalanta winger, etched his name in the history books by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a one-legged UEFA Europa League final, as reported by Sportblog247.com.

Lookman, who also shone at the AFCON 2023 tournament by scoring three goals in seven games and earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament, delivered a standout performance against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Aviva Stadium in Ireland.

The 27-year-old forward opened the scoring twelve minutes into the game, capitalizing on a precise cut-back from Davide Zappacosta and slotting the ball home with his left foot. Lookman doubled Atalanta’s lead by skillfully bypassing Granit Xhaka and finding the bottom corner of Matej Kovar’s net. He completed his hat-trick in spectacular fashion, racing past Edmond Tapsoba and unleashing a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner.

Leverkusen, managed by Alonso, chose to bench Nigerian duo Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, opting instead for an attacking trio of Amine Adli, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz. However, they struggled against the formidable Atalanta defense.

Lookman’s historic hat-trick not only secured Atalanta’s first-ever European trophy but also made him the first Nigerian to win the man of the match award in a Europa League final. As Lookman contemplates his future, his exceptional performance in Dublin stands as a perfect high note to conclude his tenure at Bergamo.