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Josip Ilicic Makes UEFA Champions League History, Beats Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo To Record

Josip Ilicic Makes UEFA Champions League History, Beats Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo To Record

Josip Ilicic – Atalanta

Atalanta's fairy-tale maiden campaign in the UEFA Champions League continued on Tuesday evening with an enthralling win over Valencia, and it was a night to remember for star striker Josip Ilicic, who beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to a competition record. 

Click through the gallery above to see the four players who have scored four or more goals in a single UCL knockout stage match!

The Serie A outfit, who are competing in the Champions League for the first time this season, progressed to the quarter-finals on Tuesday after securing a 4-3 (8-4 aggregate) win over Spanish side Valencia.

Ilicic was the star performer on the night after netting all four of his side's goals against their LaLiga opponents – in the process becoming only the fourth player after Messi, Mario Gomez and Robert Lewandowski to score four or more goals in a knockout match in the competition. 

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Unlike his predecessors, however, the Slovenia international is the first player ever to do so away from home, with his haul coming at the Mestalla Stadium in Spain.

The 32-year-old scored twice from the penalty spot in the first half, either side of Kevin Gameiro's effort for Valencia, before netting twice in the second stanza to secure his side's progression to the next round of the tournament. 

Read: Ex-International Footballer Has Coronavirus

Ilicic has scored 21 goals across all competitions for Atalanta so far this season, including 15 in 21 Serie A appearances and five more in the Champions League. 

Are you surprised by Ilicic's record for Atalanta? Share your thoughts by commenting in the section below.

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