Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres earned his place in an elite Champions League club on Tuesday night.
The Sweden international has established himself as one of European football's best frontmen with his exploits since moving to Portugal in the summer of 2023.
Prior to the Champions League fixture at home to Manchester City, Gyokeres had contributed an incredible 63 goals and 19 assists from his 66 appearances in all competitions.
Gyokeres added a further three strikes to his tally against the Premier League champions as Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim signed off from games at Estadio Jose Alvalade with a 4-1 victory.
After converting a one-on-one chance to get Sporting back on level terms before half time, Gyokeres netted two penalties after the break to guide the Primeira Liga leaders to a commanding win.
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What club has Gyokeres joined?
As far as this season is concerned, the 26-year-old now has 23 goals to his name from just 17 appearances, as well as seven strikes from his last two outings.
In chipping in with a treble against Pep Guardiola's side, Gyokeres becomes just the third player to score a hat-trick versus Man City in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi was the first to achieve the feat back in 2016 as he spearheaded Barcelona's charge to a 4-0 triumph at Camp Nou.
Five years later, Christopher Nkunku - now at Chelsea - contributed a treble when playing in the colours of RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
Nevertheless, the Bundesliga outfit would still succumb to a 6-3 reverse to City, who were playing in their first group fixture since losing the final in the previous campaign.
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A match made in heaven with Amorim
Reports have suggested that Gyokeres has no intention of following Amorim to Manchester United during one of the upcoming transfer windows.
As well as allegedly being discouraged by the current predicament that United find themselves in, Gyokeres' only experience of league football in England is in the Championship.
On the flip side, Gyokeres' phenomenal return in front of goal was not anticipated until he immediately settled into Amorim's style of play.
While there is no prospect of Gyokeres leaving Sporting midway through the campaign, he could still have his head turned if United's fortunes change for the better under his departing head coach.
Darren Plant
