Here are 10 of the most impressive stats and records from Benzema’s match-winning hat-trick performance in west London.
– Benzema has now scored 37 goals in 36 matches for Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season – over double the amount of Vinicius Junior who is their second top scorer.
– The striker has become the first player ever to score a Champions League hat-trick against Chelsea.
– Benzema and Vinicius have combined for five Champions League goals this season; a tally more than any other duo in the competition this term. Not bad considering the former Lyon man was caught telling team-mate Ferland Mendy not to pass to the Brazil international during a Madrid game in October 2020.
– His three goals mean he’s become just the fourth player in history to score 80+ goals – 82 goals – in the Champions League after Cristiano Ronaldo 140 goals, Lionel Messi 125 goals and Robert Lewandowski 85 goals.
– Of Benzema’s 82 goals in the competition, only one has been a penalty.
– The 34-year-old has become the first French player to reach 10+ goals in a single campaign in the Champions League.
– Benzema is now one of only two players to score consecutive Champions League hat-tricks in the knockout stage – the other was C Ronaldo in 2017 who bagged three against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.
– For the first time in his career, the striker has now been involved in 50 goals in one season, registering 37 goals and 13 assists.
– Benzema has now scored 10 times in his last four Real Madrid appearances – PSG (3), Mallorca (2), Celta Vigo (2) and Chelsea (3).
– He is now level with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (13) for the most goals scored in the Champions League knockout stages since the 2017-18 season.
