Scoring a goal in a match is quite a big deal, and scoring a hat-trick is the most special and hard thing for an individual. There are and were many players who did this charismatic task in a game. The history of hat-tricks is as old as football itself. On March 2 1878, the first ever hat-trick was recorded in an international match when John McDougall scored three times for Scotland in a 7-2 win against England.
On October 12, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first football player to score ten hat-tricks for the national team. He scored 3 goals for Portugal in a 5-0 win over Luxembourg. According to Record Sports Soccer Statistics Foundation’s (RSSSF) data, Erwin Helmchen has scored more than 141 hat-tricks, but as per the Guinness World Record, Pele has scored the most hat-tricks in history.
According to the official data by world football officials, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two biggest giants in the football world for more than one and half decades, are leading hat-trick scorers. Ronaldo and Messi are followed by Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez. Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane, is also on the list.
Also, the new generation’s promising strikers, Erling Halaand and Kylian Mbappe are also in the table of most hat-tricks in football. On that note, let’s find out the top 10 players with the most hat-tricks in football.
Top 10 Players with Most Hart-tick in Football
10. Kylian Mbappe – 14
Kylian Mbappe has set a record for the most hat-tricks (5) in the top level of world football in 2022. The glorious hat trick in the 2022 World Cup final was the best of all. The other four hat-trick he has scored for PSG.
At the age of 23, Mbappé has already scored a total of 16 hat-tricks for club and country. This includes a record-breaking hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final, where he became the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score three goals in the biggest game in football.
Mbappé’s hat-trick record is even more impressive when you consider that he has only been playing professional football for six years. He made his debut for Monaco at the age of 16 in 2015, and he has been scoring hat-tricks at a regular rate ever since.
The French striker is awarded as “King of hat-tricks” due to the main tie-breaker: the number of hat-tricks in international games. He has scored a total of 14 hat-tricks.
Here are some examples of Mbappé’s hat-trick prowess:
- In 2017, Mbappé scored a hat-trick for Monaco in a 7-1 victory over Metz. He was just 18 years old at the time, making him the youngest player to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1 history.
- In 2018, Mbappé scored a hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain in a 9-0 victory over Guingamp. This was the biggest Ligue 1 win since 1963.
- In 2019, Mbappé scored a hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain in a 5-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League. This made him the youngest player in Champions League history to score at least 15 goals.
- In 2022, Mbappé scored a hat-trick for France in the World Cup final against Argentina. He became the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score three goals in the World Cup final.
9. Harry Kane – 16
Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in today’s football, and there is no doubt about it. The England Captain has scored his most hat-tricks in football while playing for Spurs in the Premier League.
Kane’s first hat-trick came in December 2014, when he scored three times for Tottenham Hotspur against Asteras Tripolis in the Europa League. He went on to score his first Premier League hat-trick against AFC Bournemouth in February 2015, and he has since scored 10 more hat-tricks in the English top flight.
Kane’s hat-tricks have come against a wide range of opponents, including some of the biggest clubs in Europe, such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United. He has also scored hat-tricks for England against San Marino, Lithuania, and Montenegro.
Kane’s ability to score hat-tricks is a testament to his individual brilliance as a footballer. He is a complete striker who is capable of scoring with both feet and his head. He is also a very intelligent player who is always looking for ways to get into scoring positions.
Kane is also showcasing some phenomenal football in his new club, Bayern Munich. He scored a hat-trick in just 12 minutes in a 7-0 win over Vfl Bochum. Currently, Spur’s top scorer has a total of 16 hat-tricks.
Here are some of Kane’s most memorable hat-tricks:
- February 2015: Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 AFC Bournemouth (Premier League)
- August 2017: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Everton (Premier League)
- December 2017: Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 Southampton (Premier League)
- April 2018: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Stoke City (Premier League)
- June 2018: England 6-1 Panama (World Cup)
- September 2023: Bayern Munich 7-0 VfL Bochum (Bundesliga)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, once the best striker and athlete in the football world, has also had his fair share of hat-tricks in football. The Swedish superstar has a wide range of experience playing in various leagues. He retired from football on June 4 2023, playing as a striker for AC Milan.
Ibrahimovic’s first hat-trick came for Ajax against NAC Breda in 2004, and he has since gone on to score trebles for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United. He has also scored hat-tricks for Sweden against Malta, Finland, England, and Norway.
Ibrahimovic’s ability to score hat-tricks is a testament to his all-round goalscoring prowess. He is a complete striker, capable of scoring with his head, his feet, and from long range. He is also a very strong and powerful player, which allows him to hold off defenders and get into good positions to score.
One of the most impressive things about Ibrahimovic’s record of scoring hat-tricks is that he has done it in so many different leagues and competitions. He has scored hat-tricks in the Eredivisie, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Premier League, the Champions League, and the Europa League. This shows that he is able to perform at a high level against any opposition.
Zaltan had a 20-year professional football career in which he scored 17 hat-tricks. In 2017, he scored his last hat-trick playing for Manchester United in the 3-0 win over St Etienne. Also, he is an all-time top scorer for his national team of Sweden.
Here are some of Ibrahimovic’s most memorable hat-tricks:
- Sweden 4-2 England (2012): Ibrahimovic scored four goals in a stunning victory for Sweden over England in a friendly match. His goals included a free-kick, a header, and a solo effort.
- Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Anderlecht (2013): Ibrahimovic scored four goals in the Champions League group stage, including a perfect hat-trick inside 20 minutes.
- Los Angeles Galaxy 7-2 Sporting Kansas City (2019): Ibrahimovic scored three goals in a dominant victory for the Galaxy, including a bicycle kick from 25 yards out.
7. Erling Halaand – 18
Erling Halaand has been phenomenal in the football world for a couple of years. The Norwegian striker was the top Premier League scorer in the 2022-23 season. He also created a record by winning a treble with Manchester City. This season saw him enter the list of players with the most Hat tricks in football.
Holland scored 18 hat-tricks in his short playing career, and we can expect more hat-tricks from him in coming games. Currently, he is Pep Guardiola’s favourite man in Man City.
6. Sergio Aguero – 18
Sergio Aguero was one of the most dominating strikers in football. During his Manchester City days, Aguero created the record for most Premier League hat-tricks, 12. The Argentine forward was one of the leading players of Argentina, reaching the final of the 2014 World Cup.
Aguero was also a prolific hat-trick scorer at international level. He scored four hat-tricks for Argentina, including one against Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-final.
Aguero’s goal-scoring prowess was not just limited to hat-tricks. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Manchester City, with 260 goals in all competitions. He is also the fourth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, with 184 goals.
Aguero’s ability to score hat-tricks was due to a number of factors. He was a natural goalscorer with a clinical instinct for finding the back of the net. He was also a very intelligent player, and he was able to read the game well and find space in the opposition’s defense
Sergio Aguero scored a total of 18 hat-tricks in his career. He retired from professional football due to cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat in March 2021.
Here are some of Aguero’s most memorable hat-tricks:
- vs. Wigan Athletic (September 2011): Aguero scored his first Premier League hat-trick in just his fourth game for Manchester City. He scored all three goals in a 3-0 victory.
- vs. Newcastle United (January 2012): Aguero scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United. His second goal was a particularly impressive one, as he dribbled past three defenders before scoring a long-range shot.
- vs. QPR (May 2012): Aguero scored a dramatic late winner in a 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011/12 season. His goal sealed Manchester City’s first Premier League title.
- vs. Chelsea (October 2014): Aguero scored a hat-trick in a 6-3 victory over Chelsea. His second goal was a particularly memorable one, as he chipped the ball over the Chelsea goalkeeper from outside the box.
- vs. Bayern Munich (April 2015): Aguero scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. His goal-scoring prowess helped Manchester City to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their history.
- vs. Arsenal (February 2019): Aguero scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Arsenal. His second goal was a particularly impressive one, as he curled a free-kick into the top corner from outside the box.
5. Mario Gomez – 18
Mario Gomez was one the most firing strikers for Germany as well as Bayern Munich. He has scored a total of 18 hat-tricks in his career, out of which 13 were hat-tricks in the Bundesliga, more than any other player since the league’s inception in 1963. He has also scored four goals in a single Bundesliga match on one occasion, making him one of only 14 players to have achieved this feat.
Gomez’s first hat-trick came for VfB Stuttgart in a 4-1 win over 1. FC Köln in 2006. He went on to score two more hat-tricks for Stuttgart, before joining Bayern Munich in 2009.
At Bayern, Gomez scored 10 hat-tricks in the Bundesliga, including a hat-trick against CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League in 2010. He is also the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League in a single season.
Gomez’s hat-tricks have come against a wide range of opposition, including some of the biggest clubs in Europe. He has scored hat-tricks against Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen, and Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, as well as against Juventus, Manchester City, and Barcelona in the Champions League.
Gomez represented the German national team for 11 years, from 2007 to 2018. In 2020, he retired from professional football, playing for club VfB Stuttgart.
4. Luis Suarez – 29
Luis Suarez has emerged as one of the leading strikers in the football world. The former Barcelona ace has scored a total of 29 hat-tricks: 12 for Barcelona, 9 for Ajax, 6 for Liverpool, 2 for Uruguay and 1 for Germio.
Suarez’s first hattrick came for Ajax in 2009, against NAC Breda. He went on to score a further eight hattricks for the Dutch giants, before moving to Liverpool in 2011.
At Liverpool, Suarez became one of the most feared strikers in the world. He scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for the club, including 17 hattricks.
In 2014, Suarez joined Barcelona, where he formed a devastating attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Neymar. Together, they won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and the Champions League in 2015.
Suarez continued to score hattricks at a prolific rate for Barcelona. He scored 19 hattricks in 283 appearances for the club, including a memorable six-goal haul against Real Zaragoza in 2015. The Uruguayan striker scored a stunning hat-trick on his debut for his new club, Gremio. He scored a hat-trick in just 38 minutes of the game.
Here are some of Suarez’s most memorable hattricks:
- Ajax vs NAC Breda (2009): Suarez scored his first hattrick in professional football in this match, helping Ajax to a 4-1 victory.
- Liverpool vs Norwich City (2013): Suarez scored a stunning hattrick in this match, including a long-range volley and a chip from outside the box.
- Barcelona vs Manchester United (2015): Suarez scored a hat-trick in this Champions League quarter-final match, helping Barcelona to a 3-1 victory.
- Atletico Madrid vs Celta Vigo (2021): Suarez scored a hat-trick in this match, helping Atletico Madrid to a 4-0 victory.
3. Robert Lewandowski – 30
Robert Lewandowski is one of the sharpest strikers in the modern era. He has scored a total of 30 hat-tricks in his career. He was the king of the Bundesliga and created a world record by scoring 5 goals in 9 minutes.
Lewandowski’s ability to score hat-tricks is a testament to his individual brilliance on the football field. He is a complete striker with a wide range of skills, including excellent finishing, positioning, movement, and heading ability. He is also a very intelligent player who is always looking for ways to get into scoring positions.
In the 2020-21 season, Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller’s record for most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season (40) by netting 41 times in 29 appearances. Now, he is blasting in the Spanish league for FC Barcelona.
Here are some of Lewandowski’s most memorable hat-tricks:
- In 2012, Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in just 12 minutes for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.
- In 2013, he scored a hat-trick in 22 minutes for Dortmund against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
- In 2015, he scored a hat-trick for Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga final, helping his team to win the title.
- In 2019, he scored a hat-trick for Bayern Munich against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League group stage, becoming the first player to score three hat-tricks in a row in the competition.
- In 2021, he scored a hat-trick for Bayern Munich against RB Salzburg in the Champions League round of 16, setting the record for the fastest hat-trick in the competition’s knockout stage.
2. Lionel Messi – 57
Lionel Messi is the greatest football player in football history. The Argentine Superstar has scored a stunning 57 hat-tricks, 48 for Barcelona and 9 for the national team.
Messi’s first hat-trick came for Barcelona in 2007 against Real Madrid, and he has since gone on to score hat-tricks against some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Arsenal, Bayern Leverkusen, and Juventus. He has also scored hat-tricks in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Messi’s ability to score hat-tricks is all the more remarkable given that he is not a traditional striker. He is a playmaker who loves to drop deep and create chances for his teammates. However, he is also a clinical finisher, and he is capable of scoring goals from all over the pitch.
Currently, the former Barca legend is creating a storm in Major League Soccer (MLS) for Inter Miami. With 57 hat-tricks, Messi is sitting second in the ranking. His most recent hat-trick was in Argenina’s 7-0 friendly win against Curacao.
Here are some of most memorable Lionel Messi hat-tricks:
- March 2012: Messi scores five goals in a 7-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
- April 2010: Messi scores four goals in a 4-1 win against Arsenal in the Champions League.
- March 2011: Messi scores three goals in a 3-0 win against Real Madrid in La Liga.
- November 2012: Messi scores three goals in a 4-3 win against Brazil in a friendly match.
- June 2019: Messi scores three goals in a 3-1 win against Ecuador in the Copa América.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 63
Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of top 10 players with the most hat-tricks in football. He has scored 63 incredible hat-tricks in his international playing career. Scored 44 hat-tricks for Real Madrid, 10 for Portugal, 3 for Manchester United, 3 for Juventus and 3 for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo’s first hat-trick came for Sporting CP against Moreirense in 2003, when he was just 18 years old. He has since scored hat-tricks for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Portugal.
Ronaldo is a versatile goalscorer, and he has scored hat-tricks in all competitions, including the Champions League, the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the European Championship.
One of Ronaldo’s most memorable hat-tricks came in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool. He scored two goals in the first half to give Real Madrid a 2-1 lead, and then he added a third goal in the second half to seal a 3-1 victory.
Ronaldo has also scored hat-tricks in some of the biggest international matches. In the 2018 World Cup, he scored a hat-trick against Spain in a 3-3 draw. And in the 2021 European Championship, he scored a hat-trick against Hungary in a 3-0 victory.
His latest hat trick was in a 5-0 heroic victory against Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League 2023-34 match. In 2008, Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick playing for Manchester United in a 6-0 win over Newcastle United.
Here are some additional insights into Ronaldo’s hat-trick record:
- Ronaldo has scored hat-tricks for four different clubs and his national team.
- He has scored hat-tricks in all competitions, including the Champions League, the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the European Championship.
- Ronaldo has scored hat-tricks against some of the biggest teams in the world, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool.
- He has scored hat-tricks in both the Champions League final and the European Championship.
- Ronaldo is the only player to have scored hat-tricks in three consecutive Champions League campaigns.
- He is also the only player to have scored hat-tricks in three different European leagues.
FAQ
How many hat-tricks has Cristiano Ronaldo Scored?
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 63 hat-tricks in his career, which is more than any other active player. He has scored hat-tricks for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Portugal.
How many hat-tricks has Lionel Messi Scored?
Lionel Messi has scored 57 hat-tricks in his career for Barcelona and Argentina. He scored his first hat-trick for Barcelona against Valencia in 2009, and he has since scored hat-tricks against some of the biggest teams in the world, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich.
