However, this was not the only reason why the awesome Lookman made history. The 26-year-old became the first footballer to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final and the first to do so in any UEFA competition final since 49 years since Jupp Heynckes in 1975! So, he tied an absolutely haunted record and sent Atalanta into the sky.

Disappointment was written all over her face. It was February 11th, in Abidjan. Nigeria had recovered thanks to goals from Kessie and Haller and left the Africa Cup of Nations to the hosts Ivory Coast. Ademola Lookman remained at the foot of the podium, tears in his eyes. That medal that no one wants to keep around their neck, burns, leaves its mark. He deleted it. Like no one could probably even imagine. Scoring three goals in a European final and dragging Atalanta to the top of a peak they had never reached before. Not only from the Goddess but not even from another Italian team. We were stuck at the 1999 Parma UEFA Cup. Since the second continental event changed its name, we had never lifted it.

We can confidently say that Ademola does not know who Pierino Prati, Pierino the plague, is. He left us in 2020. Imagine, he was the last to score a hat-trick in a European final for an Italian. He had brought AC Milan to the top of Europe on 28 May 1969, lifting the European Cup, a 4-1 win over Ajax which made history. "It's the first hat-trick of my career, "I'm very happy, we've made history and the cup is coming to Bergamo - the Nigerian told Sky -. Incredible. The club's ambition is to win, it was a collective effort, each done his part." Ever in a UEFA Cup/Europa League final, the last to score a hat-trick was Jupp Heynckes in Borussia Mönchengladbach's 5-1 win over Twente.

7 seasons 5 teams

Sometimes it's a matter of trust. Lookman had worn five shirts in seven seasons: Charlton, Everton, Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester.   Then, in the summer of 2022, Atalanta signed him for just over nine million euros. Spend well, spend a lot. There is a huge difference. Then there isn't always a happy ending, you don't always get it right. But coincidentally, in those parts the donuts very often end up with a hole. So it's no coincidence. It can't be. Ademola flew on that left flank. He touched the ball with a delicacy that almost seemed like he didn't want to hurt it. But to make her understand that he was a very sweet, tender object to be caressed. She understood this and meekly glued herself to his feet. She repaid him when he was forced to kick her a little more "badly", ending up where Ademola wanted, almost as if she were remote-controlled.

Touch with the door wide open, left turn, saber in the seven. Three goals, one better than the other. Three pearls. Thirty-three goals in seven seasons, 30 with Atalanta in two seasons. Crazy stuff, Lookman stuff. At 19 he scored on his Premier League debut for Charlton in the 4-0 win over Manchester City. Then he seemed to be lost. No, he was just looking for Bergamo and Gasperini. He found them, or rather, they found him.

Players with a hat-trick in a UEFA competition final

Ferenc Puskas - Real Madrid (Champions League 1960, 1962)

Alfredo Di Stefano - Real Madrid (1960 European Cup)

Pierino Pratti - AC Milan (1969 European Cup)

Jupp Heynckes - Gladbach (UEFA Cup 1975)

Ademola Lookman - Atalanta (Europa League, 2023)