Mahrez creates FA Cup history with hat-trick against Sheffield United

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has written his name into the FA Cup history books with a hat-trick against Sheffield United in the semifinal at Wembley. 

Mahrez reacted positively to starting most of Manchester City’s recent games by putting Sheffield United to the sword in the FA Cup, to send the Cityzens to the final for the first time since 2019. 

Mahrez’ hat-trick saw him reach a number of FA Cup milestones, including becoming the first player to score a treble at Wembley Stadium. 

Aside from Mahrez, no other player has hit a semifinal hat-trick in the semifinals of the FA Cup at the old or new Wembley stadium, with the last hat-trick at this stage of the competition coming before the semifinals were hosted at the iconic stadium.

The last hat-trick scored in the FA Cup semifinal before Mahrez was by Manchester United’s Alex Dawson against Fulham in a replay played at Highbury, meaning the Algerian has scored the competition’s semifinal’s first hat-trick for 65 years. 

Mahrez’ hat-trick also saw him become the oldest player, at 32 years and 60 days, to score a hat-trick for a side coached by Pep Guardiola. 

The winger has been in and out of the Manchester City side in recent weeks, but still manages to pull out performances like these when called upon. 

He has now scored 15 goals and assisted eight more in 38 appearances even though he has started only 19 of them.