Fermin Lopez Nets First Hat-Trick for Barcelona at 22: A Look Back at Lionel Messi’s Milestone

Barcelona played against Olympiacos on Matchday 3 of the Champions League, dealing with a growing list of injuries. In a standout performance, Fermin Lopez scored his first career hat-trick in a decisive 6–1 win. This led to comparisons with Lionel Messi, raising the question of how quickly the Argentine star achieved his first hat-trick with the team.

Lopez achieved his first hat trick at 22, during his third season with Barcelona. In contrast, Lionel Messi hit this milestone at just 19, also in his third season. Messi’s first hat trick was memorable, occurring in a 3–3 draw against Real Madrid, signaling the start of his remarkable career with the club.

That game was just the beginning. Over 17 seasons with Barcelona, Messi scored an impressive 48 hat-tricks for the club, in addition to 10 for Argentina and two since joining Inter Miami.

For Lopez, this is only the start. “My first hat trick with Barça — a dream come true. Now it’s time to keep working,” said the 22-year-old after the match. “Having my teammates sign the ball means a lot. It’s thanks to them, too.”

This was a memorable night for Lopez, who not only excelled in performance but also made history by becoming the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick for Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

What about Lamine Yamal?

Since Lionel Messi left Barcelona, the club has struggled to find a suitable successor to carry on his legacy. Recently, Lamine Yamal has emerged as one of the brightest young talents, with playing styles that invite comparisons to Messi.

Yamal has shown his skills on the field and currently wears the famous No. 10 jersey that Messi made famous. However, unlike Lopez, the 18-year-old has not yet scored a hat trick for the team.

So far, Yamal has made 113 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 28 goals and providing 40 assists, establishing himself as a key player under Hansi Flick. He has come close to a hat trick, achieving braces against Granada in February 2024 and Girona in September 2024, but he is still aiming for that three-goal mark.

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist fluent in English and Spanish, specializing in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US and has covered major sports events like the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and NBA Finals. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US to cover a range of sports, including European soccer, MLS, and the NBA.