What a way to get back to your dazzling best, Mohamed Salah.
The Liverpool forward scored the quickest hat-trick in Champions League history on Wednesday night, coming off the bench to score three times in the space of six minutes and 12 seconds as the Reds thumped Rangers 7-1 at Ibrox.
His rapid treble saw him enter the record books as he snatched the honour away from ex-Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored three in eight minutes, also in a 7-1 victory, against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
Following another brilliant accolade for super Salah, we have decided to take a look at some of the other fastest hat-tricks in major competitions.
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European Championships - Michel Platini (France 3-2 Yugoslavia 1984)
The Frenchman holds the honour for the quickest hat-trick at the Euros as his goals came in a period of 18 minutes. His first two goals came from crossing scenarios as he tapped one in at the back post before heading in for his second. His third was a stunning free-kick worthy of completing any hat-trick.
World Cup - Laszlo Kiss (Hungary 10-1 El Salvador 1982)
Seven minutes was all it took for Kiss to register three goals in this extremely one-sided match, having come on in the 56th minute. His first came in the 69th minute where he took the ball down from a corner, turned and fired past the goalkeeper. His second was a delightful chip from just inside the box and the third was a typical poacher's finish. He remains the only substitute to have scored a hat-trick from the bench at the World Cup.
Hungary recorded the biggest scoreline in men's World Cup finals history
Substitute László Kiss scored the fastest hat-trick in World Cup history.
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African Cup of Nations - Benni McCarthy (South Africa 4-1 Namibia 1998)
McCarthy scored all four goals for South Africa in this incredible game as it took 11 minutes for him to score three. The first goal was a rifled finish from inside the box, the second was a drilled effort from outside and the third was a composed effort that was curled past the goalkeeper.
Copa America - Jose Manuel Moreno (Argentina 12-0 Ecuador 1942)
Before Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, there was Moreno, the first truly great Argentinian footballer. In the South America Championship, as it was known back then, it only took the attacker 10 minutes to score three against Ecuador in a record that still stands 80 years on.
Premier League - Sadio Mane (Southampton 6-1 Aston Villa 2015)
The Senegal sensation needed just two minutes and 56 seconds to humiliate Aston Villa in England’s top-flight. All three of his goals showcased his incredible reactions and his brilliant positioning to benefit against a woeful defence. It is hard to see this one ever being broken.
La Liga - Kevin Gameiro (Sporting Gijon 1-4 Atletico Madrid 2017)
With Diego Simeone’s side drawing 1-1 late in the game, substitute Gameiro made himself a hero as he scored three goals in four minutes and 43 seconds. His movement and clinical finishing were too much for the hosts as they capitulated right at the death. He kept beating the offside trap and made sure he punished Sporting Gijon for their mistakes.
#UCL
Serie A - Keita Balde (Lazio 6-2 Palermo 2017)
The Senegalese forward struck three times in five minutes as Lazio comfortably defeated Palermo at Stadio Olimpico. He bulldozed his way past defenders before slotting the ball under the goalkeeper to get up and running. The second came from the penalty spot and the third was a sublime chip from a tight angle.
Bundesliga - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich 5-1 Wolfsburg 2015)
Poland international Lewandowski tore apart Wolfsburg in one of the greatest individual performances ever seen. He scored a quickfire hat-trick in the space of four minutes after coming on in the second half before scoring another two in quick succession. The forward also became the fastest player to score four then five goals in the Bundesliga as all his goals came in just nine minutes.
Ligue 1 - Matt Moussilou (Lille 8-0 Istres 2005)
The former Congo international was on fire as he netted three times in a four-minute spell as Lille cruised past Istres. His goals came between the 13th and 18th minute as Lilles went 5-0 up before half-time. Moussilou only retired from football in July last year at the age of 39.
