Higuain breaks Nordahl's 66-year-old record
Gonzalo Higuain was in high spirits after a hattrick in a dramatic 4-0 rout of Frosinone set a new all-time record of 36 goals in a single Serie A season and fired Napoli into the Champions League.
"I feel immense joy at overtaking this record," Higuain told Mediaset at the San Paolo stadium.
"But I need to thank a lot of people, from my family to the people of Napoli, the players and the medical staff."
Roma, despite a 3-1 win at AC Milan that has virtually ended the hosts' hopes of Europa League football, finished two points adrift in third.
Champions Juventus, who secured a record-equalling fifth successive title last month, capped their campaign on Saturday with a 5-0 rout of 10-man Sampdoria in Turin where Paulo Dybala struck twice for the hosts.
In scenes not seen since the heady days of Diego Maradona on their second title win in 1990, Napoli fans had packed out the San Paolo stadium hoping to see local hero 'Pipita' set a new record.
Sitting on 33 goals, Higuain was still two short of Gunnar Nordahl's 1950 record of 35 Serie A campaign.
Frosinone gave Napoli, and Higuain, plenty of incentive after Mirko Gori was shown a straight red card for dissent, moments after a challenge on Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne.
However, it took until the 44th minute for the hosts to capitalise, captain Marek Hamsik powering home from Faouzi Ghoulam's cross.
Higuain flashed a shot over the bar minutes after the restart, but made amends in the 52nd minute with his 34th goal of the campaign after sending Allan's low cross past Massimo Zappino.
A packed San Paolo erupted, but more was to come from Higuain.
He had his second of the night, and record-equalling 35th when he glanced Jose Callejon's cross past Zappino just after the hour.
When Higuain hit his third of the night ten minutes later, it was a wonder strike from outside the area that he took on the turn and gave Zappino no chance.
Higuain added: "I feel very proud, because everyone helped me to achieve this feat. I knew I could do it, but I had to stay calm. In the first half, I didn't manage to but in the second I did.
"We want to think back on the extraordinary season we've just had. The team and the whole city deserve to soak it all up," said Higuain. "It's difficult to comprehend but I hope it will all sink in soon. After I scored the third goal and the whole team came to hug me, I felt immense joy."
Ecstatic fans showed their appreciation at the San Paolo with a rendition of a song only usually reserved for Maradona.
"Oh mamma, mamma, mamma... I've seen Higuain," sang the crowd. Reports in Italy say it has not been sung at the stadium since Maradona's time at the club, and Higuain understood the significance.
“This season I have felt the love. I feel loved here more than I did at any other club I've been," added Higuain.
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