In the
exciting world of football, few feats stir the imagination like the hat-trick.
Scoring three goals in a match does not just show the incredible ability of a
player, but also etches them into the annals of the sport. Throughout history,
numerous footballers have amazed the masses with their scoring prowess, but
very few have elevated the art of the hat-trick to the realm of legend.
These players'
impact have also been felt in every kind of goal you can imagine on the pitch
like single goals, brace, headers, and most have made the list for best
penalty takers in history amongst others. Within this
thorough research, we examine the most elite 10 hat-trick heroes of football
history, paying tribute to their remarkable achievements and making a lasting
impression on the beautiful game.
11. Sergio
Aguero - 18 hat-tricks
10. Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar - 18 hat-tricks
9. Mario Gomez
- 18 hat-tricks
8. Kylian
Mbappe - 21 hat-tricks
7. Harry Kane
- 22 hat-tricks
6. Erling
Haaland - 23 hat-tricks
5. Luis Suarez
- 30 hat-tricks
4. Robert
Lewandoski - 32 hat-tricks
3. Lionel
Messi - 59 hat-tricks
2. Cristiano
Ronaldo - 66 hat-tricks
1. Pele - 92
hat-tricks
11. Sergio
Aguero - 18 hat-tricks
Argentinian
striker Sergio "Kun" Agüero was perhaps the deadliest of his
generation of strikers. With 18 hat-tricks in the games that count, he was
firmly established as one of the greatest Premier League all-time goal-scorers
of all time. Agüero's years with Manchester City were mythical in
the sense that he became the club's greatest-ever scorer and a key cog in their
period of English football dominance.
Image Credit: Goal.com
Agüero's
finest hour was in 2012 when he scored the dramatic last-gasp goal against
Queens Park Rangers to secure Manchester City's inaugural Premier League
championship. His agile feet, speed, and clinical finishing made him a
defender's nightmare, and his ability to score hat tricks against top clubs
made him the most feared frontman on the planet.
Before coming
to Manchester City, Agüero proved himself at Atlético Madrid, winning
the UEFA Europa League in 2010. His international career was equally as
strong, leading Argentina to Copa América in 2021 with Lionel Messi. A heart
condition cut Agüero's career short in 2021, but his place as one of the
greatest goal scorers in football cannot be disputed.
10.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - 18 hat-tricks
Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar, the prized
clinical finisher, had 18 hat-tricks during his career, putting him among the
all-time top goal scorers. Huntelaar's Ajax career was incredibly
fruitful. His goal-scoring feats featured several hat-tricks, which
significantly helped the club's domestic success. 
Image Credit: Goal.com
During his
time at the Bundesliga with Schalke, Huntelaar maintained his form. He
was especially outstanding when he scored a hat-trick against 1. FC Köln,
showcasing his goal-scoring prowess. On the international stage, Huntelaar
delivered remarkable performances for the Netherlands.
He was the top
scorer of the qualification campaign, with 12 goals, including a hat-trick when
they defeated San Marino. Huntelaar's constant ability to score
hat-tricks in various leagues and competitions bears witness to his status as
being among the greatest strikers of football.
9. Mario
Gomez - 18 hat-tricks
German striker Mario Gómez had a goal-heavy career marked by his
goal-scoring capability. Until now, as of August 2023, he recorded 18 official
hat-tricks, showing his consistent goal-scoring talent. Gómez won several top
clubs throughout his professional career, such as VfB Stuttgart, Bayern
Munich, Fiorentina, and Wolfsburg, where he showcased his
sense of goal-scoring and physicality inside the box.
Image Credit: Goal.com
A
quintessential center-forward, Gómez excelled at his clinical finishing of
opportunities from close range as much as headers at opportune moments. His
tenure at Bayern Munich was especially successful, as he contributed to the
club winning a string of Bundesliga titles and the 2013 Champions League
title.
For the German
national team, he was instrumental in numerous European Championships as well
as the 2010 FIFA World Cup, being an essential component of their attacking
firepower. Even though he is often under-rated compared to other top-class
strikers, Gómez's finishing and consistency place him among the greatest
finishers of his era.
8. Kylian
Mbappe - 21 hat-tricks
French wonder
boy Kylian Mbappé is the youngest among these, yet his 21 hat-tricks
already make him one of the sport's greats. Just 25 years young, Mbappé has
accomplished in life what many of his contemporaries can only dream about. With
blistering speed, exquisite ball control, and a knack for finding the net that
defies logic, he is one of the sport's most thrilling goal-scoring threats in
the game today.
Mbappé broke
through at AS Monaco, leading them to a surprise Ligue 1 title in 2017. His
performance was rewarded with a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain
(PSG), where he has since amassed many domestic accolades and regularly
delivered breathtaking performances.
Image Credit: Goal.com
His ability to
get a hat trick in turning point matches has helped him outrun his
contemporaries, the best of whose work was the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final when
he played a record-breaker hat-trick against Argentina. Mbappé is one of
players already among his generation's greatest all-time with the World Cup
under his name. Now at Real Madrid, If he keeps going at this rate, he
might well break the hat-trick records of some of the great players ahead of
him on this list.
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7. Harry
Kane - 22 hat-tricks
Harry Kane, the prolific English striker, has
never hidden his goal-scoring potential in his entire career, particularly with
the achievement of not one but multiple hat-tricks across various competitions.
For Tottenham Hotspur, Kane scored 8 hat-tricks in the Premier League.
On 23 September 2023, Kane grabbed his first Bundesliga hat-trick at Bayern
Munich, along with two assists, in a commanding 7–0 victory over VfL
Bochum.
The match
assisted him in setting a new club record for the most goals scored by any
player in their first five Bundesliga matches. On 17 September 2024,
Kane found the net four times, of which a record-breaking three penalties, in a
9–2 Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb. This was the first time in
Champions League history that a player had converted three penalties in one
game.
Image Credit: Goal.com
Kane's level
did not dip for his first Der Klassiker appearance on 4 November 2023 with a
hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 4–0 victory over Borussia Dortmund. These
achievements are indicative of Kane's smooth transition into German football
and his continued place as the world's best striker.
6. Erling
Haaland - 23 hat-tricks
Even though
his career is still young, Erling Haaland has already made a name for himself
as one of his generation's greatest goal scorers. Haaland's had-trick chase has
been made to seem easy by his incredible speed, strength, and deadly finishing
ability.
Image Credit: Goal.com
As he
continues to break records, Haaland is a name to watch, having played for
Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and now Norway. There is still more to come
from the Norwegian phenomenon, which has already amassed 23 hat-tricks. Haaland
is changing the record books at Manchester City and Norway with his strength,
speed, and ability to score goals.
5. Luis
Suarez - 30 hat-tricks
Throughout his
career, Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez has been a formidable presence in
front of goal. He has scored 30 hat-tricks in official games as of August 2023,
demonstrating his natural ability to score goals. Suárez's journey has taken
him from Nacional in Uruguay to European giants such as Ajax, Liverpool,
Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid.
Image Credit: Goal.com
Known for his
tenacity, sharp footballing intellect, and clinical finishing, Suárez has been
a key figure in each team's attacking arsenal. At Barcelona, he formed one of
the most formidable attacking trios in modern football with Lionel Messi and
Neymar.
Suárez has
played a key role in Uruguay's achievements on the global scene, including
their 2011 Copa America triumph. His passion and competitive spirit have made
him both a feared opponent.
4. Robert
Lewandowski – 32 Hat-Tricks
Poland striker
Robert Lewandowski is among the deadliest of his generation forwards. He
now has 32 official hat-tricks, and as of August 2023, a testament to his good
shooting and perceptive movement. From being a domestic legend in Bundesliga’s Borussia
Dortmund, prior to the switch to Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, he
has been central to several domestic titles, as well as international cups such
as the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and FIFA World Cup.
Image Credit: Goal.com
His ability to
score with both feet, his head, and from anywhere on the field renders him a
threat in numerous ways. At the international level, Lewandowski has been a
talisman for the Polish national side, setting an example and breaking numerous
records year in, year out. His professionalism and dedication towards
improvement have won him across the board admiration and respect.
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3. Lionel
Messi – 59 Hat-Tricks
With his
exceptional dribbling, vision, and goal-scoring skills, Argentinian maestro Lionel
Messi has captivated the football world. Messi's continuous excellence is
demonstrated by his 59 hat-tricks in official games as of August 2023.
Messi spent
most of his career at childhood football club, FC Barcelona, and
his close relationship with the team produced multiple titles and personal
honors. He is a constant threat to opposing defenses because of his ability to
maneuver through confined spaces and deliver accurate finishes.
Image Credit: Goal.com
Messi
continued to display his skill on the field as he started a new chapter with
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021. His tenacity paid off internationally
in 2021 when Argentina won the Copa America, a defining accomplishment that had
eluded him for years. Passion, tenacity, and an unwavering love for the game
are all evident in Messi's journey.
2.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 66 Hat-Tricks
Madeira-born
Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo has earned his name among the greatest of
football thanks to relentless devotion and an unabated appetite for goals. Till
August 2023, Ronaldo has 66 official match hat-tricks that mirror his
unrelenting preeminence.
His
professional playing career has seen him donning the jerseys of the greatest of
Sporting CP's, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus,
and now Al-Nassr. At each stop, Ronaldo's goal-scoring prowess has been
the defining feature. His remarkable athleticism combined with an eye for
positioning has enabled him to remain atop his game deep into his late
30s.
Image Credit: Goal.com
Beyond club
soccer, Ronaldo's contributions to the Portuguese national team have been
historic, leading them to European Championship and Nations League
championships. His commitment to training and growth as a player are testament
to his position as a top-level, all-time great player of the game. He is also
recognized by Wikipedia
and Transfermarkt
as the top hat-trick scorer in modern football and amongst active players till
date.
1. Pelé –
92 Hat-Tricks
The top hat-trick
scorer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or Pelé as he is more popularly
known, is a giant in the history of football. Unanimous opinion has him among
the greatest of all time, and his goal-scoring records are the stuff of legend.
Throughout his illustrious career, he amassed an unbelievable 92 hat-tricks, a
record that remains unbeaten to this day.
Image Credit: Goal.com
His career
began at Santos FC in Brazil, where he showed his early talent from a
young age. Pelé's potency both in and around the six-yard box gave him
nightmares to the defenders. His career playing for Brazil abroad only
strengthened his hold, securing three World Cup titles with Brazil in 1958,
1962, and 1970. Off the field
also, Pelé made an influence, becoming an international ambassador of the sport
and inspiring generations to follow of the fans and the players.
Final
Thoughts
Hat-trick art is a rare and privileged
distinction in football, bestowed only on the all-time great goal-scorers. The
following ten players have demonstrated spectacular consistency, technical
brilliance, and cold-blooded goal-scoring ability, marking their places
alongside the legends of the game. From Pelé's
unrivaled record to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's ongoing domination, to
next-generation stars like Kylian Mbappé, the quest for greatness through
goal-scoring dominance continues to intrigue football fans everywhere.
The impact of
hat-trick scorers goes beyond winning matches, competitions or trophies for
their respective teams or countries, it also extends to football betting, specifically, football predictions, as fans can
confidently stake and make Over 1.5 goals,
Over 2.5 goals,
double chance
predictions amongst others. As emerging
talents come and go, we can only hold our breath and wait to see who will take
up the gauntlet and become a member of the exclusive hat-trick kings club in
the annals of football history.
Players
with the Most Hat-tricks in History FAQ
Who has the
most hat-tricks in football history?
In the world
of football, Pele is recognized by Guinness World Records as the player with
the most recorded hat-tricks, having scored 92 during his career for Santos, NY
Cosmos, and Brazil.
Who has
more hat-tricks, Ronaldo or Messi?
Cristiano
Ronaldo has more career hat-tricks (66) than Lionel Messi (59).
Who scored
11 hat-tricks in football?
Alan Shearer
scored 11 Premier League hat-tricks, with 9 of them for Blackburn Rovers, and 2
for Newcastle United.
How many
hattricks does Messi have?
As of November
14, 2024, Lionel Messi has scored 59 hat tricks in his career. He has scored
these hat tricks for Argentina, Inter Miami, and Barcelona.
Who scored
hat-trick in 2 minutes?
Sadio Mané
holds the record for the fastest Premier League hat-trick, scoring three goals
for Southampton against Aston Villa in just 2 minutes and 56 seconds in May
2015.
Has anyone
scored a hat-trick of penalties?
In June 2004,
Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier thanks to a hat-trick of
penalties from Ronaldo. According to the International Federation of Football
History and Statistics, there has been only one hat-trick of penalties in
senior football at an actual tournament rather than during qualification.
How many
hat-tricks has Haaland scored?
The
24-year-old Norwegian also has 11 hat-tricks in all competitions since his move
to the Etihad Stadium. He also has 23 career hat-tricks across his time at
Molde, RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, City and his national team.
Has Ronaldo
ever scored a hat-trick against Barcelona?
Even Cristiano
Ronaldo, the joint-second top scorer in El Clasico history, and the player with
the most hat-tricks in history, never managed to score one against Barcelona.
Just seven players have managed this feat since the 1980s.
How many
hat-tricks does Rashford have?
Marcus
Rashford, as of October 28 2020, has scored 1 hat-trick in his career for
Manchester United, in the Champions League match against RB Leipzig.
How many
hatrick does salah have?
Mohamed Salah
has scored four hat-tricks in the Premier League. His most recent hat-trick was
against Manchester United in October 2021.
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