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Two months after the group round concluded, the Champions League is back and underway with the first of the knockout stages, the Round of 16. With half of the participants eliminated, the remaining battle it out to progress further to the business end of the competition.
The first knockout round is not particularly remembered for producing fierce contests. However, the round has been marked over the years by memorable individual performances that have had a big impact on the outcome of respective ties.
Here's a look at four such individuals whose hat-tricks became part of folklore in the competition's history.
#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs Benfica (2016/17)
Having been subdued throughout the first leg defeat at Benfica, the Borussia Dortmund striker brought his A-game in the return leg at home, netting his first UCL hat-trick. That combined with Pulisic's debut tournament goal helped the German giants to overturn a 0-1 deficit with a 4-0 mauling of the visitors, eventually progresssing 4-1 on aggregate.
The Gabon international took only four minutes to level things, and added two more in the second half.
However, Dortmund crashed out in the quarters at the hands of a Monaco side bustling with young talent of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Mendy and Bernardo Silva, being outclassed 6-3 on aggregate.
Although Aubameyang remained scoreless throughout the tie, he ended up with seven goals in the tournament, his best showing.
#2 Robin van Persie vs Olympiacos (2013/14)
Already out of contention on the domestic front by the time the Round of 16 resumed, Manchester United were in for further misery when they were beaten fair and square by Greek side Olympiacos in the first leg. A 0-2 deficit was what the English champs carried on their shoulders for the return fixture, and an embarrassing early exit was on their minds.
Fortunately, star striker Robin van Persie's form came back at the right moment and he helped his team cross the line with a wonderful hat-trick, a testament of his world-class quality. The defence was resolute too and United progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
In the quarters they lost out 2-4 on aggregate to defending champions Bayern Munich. The comeback victory against Olympiacos was the only highlight in a trophyless 2013/14 campaign.
#3 Adriano vs Porto (2004/05)
In a career later marked with inconsistency, erratic work ethic and self-sabotaging behavior, former Brazil frontman Adriano had his best days between 2004 and 2006 when his goalscoring exploits made headlines in Europe. An instance of his incredible skills came in the 2004/05 UCL when he single-handedly dispatched defenders Porto in a 3-1 second leg victory at home.
With the tie evenly poised after a 1-1 draw in Portugal, Adriano gave Inter the lead six minutes into the game, followed by two in the second half to kill the contest. Inter finished 4-2 winners but were eliminated by arch-rivals and semi-finalists AC Milan in the quarters.
The Brazilian ended his debut campaign as second on the leaderboard with seven goals, with three more in the qualifying round. Overall, he was Inter's top scorer of the season with 28 goals to his name.
#4 Lionel Messi vs Bayer Leverkusen (2011/12)
The Argentine magician Lionel Messi was at it again when he struck his third UCL hat-trick against German side Bayer Leverkusen in the return leg back in 2012. Apart from equaling Filippo Inzaghi's record, the feat was made even more special as Leo added two more to his tally, making it five for the night in a 7-1 triumph.
The five-goal haul was a first in the competition's history.
Messi was at the peak of his goalscoring powers throughout 2012, with a personal-best 14-goal UCL campaign and a record 50-goal La Liga season, all culminating into 91 calendar year goals - surpassing Gerd Muller's four-decade-old record of 85. The 31-year old's eight UCL hat-tricks are the most by any player till date.
