Karim Benzema breaks Champions League scoring record with stunning hat-trick against Chelsea

KARIM BENZEMA further etched himself into Champions League folklore with a brilliant hat-trick against Chelsea.

The Real Madrid hitman put the Blues to the sword in the first half of their quarter-final tie at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night with two stupendous headers.

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And the 34-year-old heaped further misery on the crisis clubs shortly after the restart by capitalising on a howler from Edouard Mendy to bag his and Real's third.

Benzema's third goal of the evening saw him break the record for the most Champions League goals scored in a single season by a Frenchman.

Prior to Real's trip to west London, Benzema trailed David Trezeguet, Wissam Ben Yedder and international team-mate Kylian Mbappe - all of whom had scored eight goals in a single campaign in Europe's elite club competition - in the list.

But the veteran striker now stands alone at the top of the pile having found the back of the net nine times in Real's latest European campaign.

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Footy fans took Twitter in their droves to hail Benzema, with one saying: "Benzema is the best player in the world."

Another said: "Benzema is so cold."

And another said: "Nobody can tell me otherwise, I swear Benzema is the best player in the world."

One remarked: "Benzema is crazy… GOOD!!!"

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Another chimed in: "Benzema STOP IT."

Benzema's hat-trick against the Blues was his second in his last two Champions League outings - the first of which came last month in the round-of-16 against PSG.

One footy fan tweeted: "Back-to-back Champions League hat-tricks for Karim Benzema.

"He's 34-years-old, by the way."

Another asked: "Wait what the f**k KARIM BENZEMA NOW HAS BACK TO BACK UCL HATTIES????"

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Benzema's exploits at Stamford Bridge took his tally for the season to a staggering 37 goals in 36 appearances.

Benzema and his Real team-mates will be back in action on Saturday night, welcoming Getafe to the Bernabeu.