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.

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.

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????"

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.