The 21-year-old’s treble helped the newly crowned Premier League champions to a thrilling 4-3 victory against Newcastle at St James’ Park. In doing so he became the youngest player to score a league hat-trick for a Pep Guardiola side, the previous record being set by Messi 11 years ago.
Argentine superstar Messi was 22 years, 200 days old when he scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 La Liga win for Guardiola’s Barcelona against Tenerife in 2010. Fast-forward 11 years and Torres is 125 days younger than Messi was, with all three of his goals coming in a remarkable 24-minute spell either side of half-time.
A spectacular flicked finish from the former Valencia man put City 2-1 in front shortly before the break. Then, after goals from Joelinton and Joe Willock put Newcastle ahead, the winger converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross to level the match at 3-3. Two minutes later Torres was again in the right place to slam home the rebound and restore City’s lead after Joao Cancelo’s shot struck the crossbar.
The Spain international has now scored 12 goals for City this season, with five of those coming in his last five matches. He also has two hat-tricks to his name this campaign having scored a treble for Spain in a 6-0 Nations League win against Germany last November.
“It has been an incredible week, we qualified for the Champions League, won the Premier League and I scored a hat-trick. Very happy,” Torres told Sky Sports.
“I try to improve day by day and also try to learn from my team-mates and my manager. I try to keep improving and getting ready for the Champions League final.
“I always try to go to the first post for set pieces, I flicked the ball and I think it was a very beautiful goal.”
Reflecting on Torres’ performance, Guardiola told BBC Sport: “Incredible numbers and goals in his first season in the Premier League.
“He is so young and clinical. He is a guy brought as a winger but maybe we have to think as a striker. He is a good player.”
The result means City set a new English record of 12 successive away league victories and extends their lead at the top of the table to 13 points. They have two more Premier League games against Brighton and Everton to come before the Champions League final against Chelsea in Lisbon on May 29.
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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