Lewandowski ´can catch´ Ronaldo and Messi after Bayern star celebrates milestone with hat-trick

Robert Lewandowski “can catch” Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi following his latest Champions League hat-trick, according to former Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez.

Lewandowski dazzled in his 100th Champions League appearance, capping the European milestone with three goals in Tuesday’s 5-2 rout of visitors Benfica as Bayern sealed their last-16 berth.

The Ballon d’Or contender became the sixth player to score on his 100th appearance in the Champions League, after Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, Andrea Pirlo and Toni Kroos, while the Poland captain is the first player to score more than once in the milestone game.

Bayern talisman Lewandowski also celebrated his fourth Champions League hat-trick – the third-most in the competition after Manchester United’s Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Messi (eight each). At 33 years and 73 days, he is the fourth-oldest hat-trick scorer after Olivier Giroud (34 years 63 days), Ronaldo and Claudio Pizarro (34 years 35 days).

As Lewandowski continues to flourish in Munich, shattering records, Gomez hailed the red-hot striker as Ronaldo and Messi – who have 11 Ballon d’Or honours between them – continue to dominate.

“He is playing a different sport; he’s in a different league,” Gomez told Amazon Prime Video post-match. “He still has a few years left, he can catch them up [Messi and Ronaldo].”