Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest football managers of all time, has built some of the most formidable teams in European football. Whether at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Manchester City, his sides are known for their structured defense, tactical discipline, and high pressing.
Breaking down a Pep Guardiola defense is a monumental task and only six Players Who Scored Hat-tricks against Guardiola in his 14-year European coaching career.
Six Players Who Scored Hat-Tricks Against Guardiola Teams
This is not just a random list of hat-trick scorers; these are some of the most clinical finishers and high-level performers in world football. Let’s take a closer look at the six elite players who have managed to breach Guardiola’s defenses in spectacular fashion.
- Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) – The Only Player to Do It Twice
Jamie Vardy stands alone at the top of this elite list. The Leicester City legend is the only player to score two Hat-trick against Guardiola’s Manchester City.
First Hat-Trick (December 10, 2016) – Vardy stunned Pep’s Manchester City by scoring three goals in a 4-2 victory for Leicester.
Second Hat-Trick (September 27, 2020) – Once again, Vardy proved to be Guardiola’s nightmare, scoring a treble in a 5-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2016 – UEFA Champions League)
Lionel Messi, a player Guardiola himself once coached, was the second to Scoring a hat-trick against Pep Guardiola after Aguero. Playing for Barcelona against Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League on October 19, 2016, Messi tore through the City defense, scoring three times in a 4-0 win.
- Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, 2014 – UEFA Champions League)
Before becoming a Manchester City legend, Sergio Agüero tormented Hat-Tricks Against Pep Guardiola Teams Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage. On October 19, 2014, Agüero scored all three goals in a 3-2 victory for City, proving his world-class finishing ability.
- Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, 2021 – UEFA Champions League)
In a thrilling 6-3 group-stage clash on September 15, 2021, Christopher Nkunku gave Manchester City a headache by scoring a hat-trick for RB Leipzig. Despite Leipzig losing the game, Nkunku’s performance was one to remember.
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP, 2025 – UEFA Champions League)
On February 23, 2025, Viktor Gyökeres became one of the latest players to join this exclusive club. The Sporting CP striker scored three goals against Manchester City, further highlighting how difficult it is to stop an in-form attacker, even for a Guardiola team.
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, 2025 – UEFA Champions League)
The newest member of this elite list, Kylian Mbappé, delivered a world-class performance on February 19, 2025, when he scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League. With his pace and lethal finishing, Mbappé proved why he is one of the most dangerous forwards in the world.
Guardiola has built his career on structuring defensive units that are difficult to break. His teams dominate possession, press aggressively, and concede very few chances. For a player to Hat-trick scorers against Guardiola teams side, they need to be exceptionally clinical in front of goal, able to exploit defensive gaps and be capable of performing at the highest level in big matches.
Jamie Vardy’s double achievement stands out, while Mbappé’s recent addition to the list solidifies his place among football’s elite. Messi, Agüero, Nkunku, and Gyökeres all showcased outstanding finishing to accomplish this rare feat.
This list isn’t just about hat-tricks; it’s about greatness in football—only a select few have been able to dismantle Guardiola’s defenses, and these six players have etched their names into history.
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