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Joaquin: The truth is that I've had to pinch myself to check that this is real

  /  autty

At the age of 38 years and 240 days, Joaquin Sanchez became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in LaLiga Santander as he scored three goals for Real Betis against Athletic Club.

He left behind a record set by a legend, Real Madrid's Alfredo di Stefano, who did so at the age of 37 years and 255 days back in 1964.

Twenty years have passed since Joaquin first came through the ranks at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, though you would never have been able to tell as he tore through the Athletic Club defence to sore three in just 20 minutes on Sunday.

He scored with three consecutive shots, all against a goalkeeper, Unai Simon, who had only recently celebrated his fourth birthday when Joaquin made his LaLiga debut.

Finidi George

No Betis player had scored a hat-trick at home for the club for 22 years, December 7, 1997, being the last time anyone had as Finidi George notched three against Tenerife.

Away from the Villamarin, it was the first treble since Dani scored three in 2006 against Real Zaragoza, with Ricardo Oliveira having scored a hat-trick at San Mames a year earlier.

Betis shareholder

"The truth is that I've had to pinch myself to check that this is real," Joaquin told Radio MARCA after the match.

"That people still see me at my age as an important player boosts my moral and makes me happy, I try to be just another player and offer the same."

The winger, who hopes to be club president one day, owns two percent of the club having spent more than one million euros on shares.

Tributes from teammates

"He's a machine, he's 38 but he plays like he's 25, he's incredible, he plays, he enjoys," said Emerson.

"I can't say anything else, it could even seem like I'm sucking up to him, to play at that age and keep making a difference...," added his coach, Rubi.

"The only shame is that he missed the chance to score fourth with possible the easiest chance."

Related: Real BetisJoaquin