MANCHESTER, England — Phil Foden delivered a statement performance on Tuesday night, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1 in the UEFA Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
The England international’s outstanding display offered fresh hope of a return to form after two difficult seasons, helping City recover from their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week.
Foden, 26, has endured a turbulent period marked by inconsistent performances, limited playing time and struggles with his mental health. He had also gone 10 months without scoring before finding the net in City’s Premier League victory over Ipswich on Saturday.
His latest performance could prove significant as he attempts to re-establish himself under City manager Enzo Maresca and return to England’s plans ahead of November’s Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.
City were also dealing with injury concerns, with striker Erling Haaland left on the bench and Antoine Semenyo ruled out for eight weeks.
Despite the setbacks, Foden adapted to different attacking roles, starting on the left wing before moving into the false-nine position, where he continued to trouble the Greek visitors.
Maresca welcomed the midfielder’s resurgence, describing him as a top player and highlighting the additional attacking option his return to form provides.
The City boss said Foden’s performance was encouraging both for the player and the team, which will need greater attacking depth as the season progresses.
Foden’s hat-trick also ended his wait for a Champions League goal that had stretched back to November 2025.
The midfielder was left out of England’s World Cup squad earlier this year, underlining how far his standing had fallen after previously being regarded as one of the country’s brightest talents.
However, his five-star performance against AEK Athens has strengthened his case for a more prominent role at club level and potentially a return to the international setup.
Foden will now be under pressure to maintain the momentum and demonstrate that his latest display marks the beginning of a sustained revival rather than an isolated moment of brilliance.
