Four Goals, One Night: Greenwood’s Golden Night Tops Ligue 1 as Marseille Roars

Greenwood’s Golden Night in Marseille

English forward Mason Greenwood delivered a night to remember as Olympique Marseille hammered Le Havre 6-2 on Saturday in Ligue 1's eighth round. The on-loan Manchester United winger scored four goals, recording his first-ever super hat-trick and highlighting Marseille's hot start to the season.

Greenwood's quartet took him to six Ligue 1 goals this campaign, and Marseille surged to the top as rivals stumbled. It was a night that smoothed over any concerns about defensive potholes—we were busy chasing the highlight reel.

Opta tallied that Greenwood became the first Marseille player to record a super hat-trick in Ligue 1 since Jean-Pierre Papin accomplished the feat versus Lyon in 1991, a milestone that will be remembered in the club’s annals.

Papin’s era remains a benchmark, part of a line that includes Zidane, Benzema, and, this year, Ousmane Dembélé after his role in PSG’s early European success.

Greenwood, now 26, joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 from Manchester United for 26 million euros after spending 2023-24 on loan at Getafe, a chapter he describes as a necessary retooling rather than a bench-warming sabbatical.

His off-field journey has been as public as his ascent, including a time away from United after allegations against him were investigated; a court ruling later cleared him, and he found a fresh path in France.

Across 45 appearances for Marseille, he has 25 goals and 10 assists; prior spells at Getafe yielded 10 goals and 6 assists in 36 games, while Manchester United produced 35 goals and 12 assists in 129.

England’s youth system is part of his story; he has a single senior cap, earned in 2020 against Iceland in the Nations League.

Injury Blow and Africa Cup News

Shock news emerged as Marseille confirmed Amine Guiri would undergo shoulder surgery after multiple dislocations, with the Algerian forward expected to miss around three months and ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco from late December to January. The tournament will see Algeria in Group E with Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea, adding international drama to club-level stakes.

Le Havre, the visitors tonight, held firm early but could not sustain the pace as Marseille's tempo and Greenwood's menace wore them down; their coach praised the visitors’ energy but accepted that one spell of relentless pressing decided the night.

Tactically, Marseille pressed high and used Greenwood as a central focal point, while the width came from his teammates, allowing the defense to hold firm when Le Havre tried to respond.

The club's plan is to give him more minutes in upcoming fixtures as the schedule tightens, while the European push intensifies and the Velodrome’s cheers grow louder with every passer.

Also looming is the Africa Cup of Nations, where Guiri’s injury will temporarily open opportunities for others to step up in attack for Algeria.

Table Tops, Fixtures, and Forward Look

Marseille’s ascendancy has placed them atop 18 points after the weekend’s results; PSG’s title defense was tested as they drew with Strasbourg, while Monaco and Lyon traded late; Lens remains close behind as European battles approach.

PSG sits second on 17, Strasbourg third on 16, Lyon fourth on 15, and Monaco clinging to fifth on 14, just a point behind Lens, who host Paris FC in Sunday’s fixture. European ties loom as PSG visit Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille travel to Sporting Lisbon, Monaco host Tottenham in the Champions League, while Lyon meet Basel in the Europa League and Strasbourg visit Jagiellonia in the Conference League.

Looking ahead, the league’s top fights seem wide open as Europe beckons and domestic battles intensify. If Greenwood keeps this form, Marseille might need a bigger trophy room—and maybe a bigger passport for all the celebrations that follow.

In short, Greenwood’s night was huge, Marseille’s season feels special, and the football world is watching with a mix of awe and a touch of astonishment. And if you were wondering, yes, the net is still standing—just a little more famous now.

Punchline alert: If Greenwood keeps scoring like this, the Ballon d'Or committee may need a restraining order against the goal net. And when a forward is this hot, even the spray tan on the corner flag starts glowing with envy.