A new chapter has begun in the career of 19-year-old Brazilian forward Andrik, who has transformed early disappointment at Real Madrid into a historic breakthrough at Lyon. Once a struggling talent struggling for opportunities at the Spanish giants, Andrik announced himself on the Ligue 1 stage with a stunning hat-trick, etching his name into the club’s record books.
Lyon secured a resounding 5-2 victory over Metz, with Andrik, playing from the bench, netting three of the five goals. The teenager opened the scoring in the 11th minute on the opponent’s turf, doubled his tally in the first minute of stoppage time in the first half, and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
By achieving this feat at just 19 years and 188 days, Andrik became the youngest player in Lyon and Ligue 1 history to score a hat-trick, breaking Bernard Lacombe’s long-standing record of 19 years and 196 days. In the 21st century, only Jeremy Ménez (17y 260d), Kylian Mbappé (18y 53d), and Ousmane Dembélé (18y 296d) have recorded Ligue 1 hat-tricks at a younger age.
| Player | Club | Age at Hat-Trick | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrik | Lyon | 19y 188d | Youngest in Lyon & Ligue 1 history |
| Bernard Lacombe | Lyon | 19y 196d | Previous Lyon record holder |
| Jeremy Ménez | PSG | 17y 260d | 21st-century record |
| Kylian Mbappé | Monaco | 18y 53d | 21st-century record |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Rennes | 18y 296d | 21st-century record |
Andrik’s immediate impact at Lyon has been extraordinary. Since joining on loan from Real Madrid in December, he has scored four goals in his first three matches and assisted a teammate once — the best start for any new player in the club’s recent history. The previous benchmark was set by Mariano Diaz in August 2017, who scored three goals in the same early period.
His first goal against Metz came courtesy of a precise cross from captain Corentin Tolisso, expertly flicked into the net with his left foot. The second showcased his composure as he cut in from the right flank and outwitted goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer. Finally, Andrik converted a penalty in the 87th minute to complete his hat-trick. Lyon’s other goals were scored by Ruben Cluivert, son of former Barcelona forward Patrick Kluivert, and Tyler Morton.
The win lifts Lyon to fourth place in Ligue 1, with 36 points from 19 matches, trailing leaders PSG, who have 45 points from the same number of games.
Reflecting on his resurgence, Andrik said, “I am so happy to be back on the field and to have my smile again. Everything is amazing, even better than I imagined. I can enjoy myself with the team; I know everyone well. I speak Spanish and English and feel very comfortable. Thanks to the staff — it’s truly wonderful.”
On why he chose Lyon, Andrik added, “The style of play here suits me. It reminds me of my time at Palmeiras as a false nine. I can help the team both in attack and defence, and I enjoy a lot of freedom on the pitch.”
Andrik’s story is a reminder that even the brightest talents sometimes need a change of scenery to truly shine.