In football (soccer), a hat trick refers to a player scoring three goals in a single match. Hat tricks are one of the most famous achievements in football, demonstrating a player’s exceptional skill, accuracy, and ability to dominate the game.
These three goals can be scored in normal play (90 minutes), extra time, or a combination of both, but they must be within the same match. Scoring three goals in a single match is not only a rare feat but also a testament to the footballer’s clinical finishing and impact on the field.
Some footballers have carved their name in football history by scoring an astonishing number of hat-tricks in their careers.
From pioneers like Erwin Helmchen, Josef Bican, and Pelé to modern-day icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Robert Lewandowski, players have amassed multiple hat-tricks in their careers.
John McDougall – Scottish footballer – was the first player in the world of football to score a hat-trick in an international match. On 2 March 1878, when Scotland were playing against England, he scored three goals for Scotland and defeated England 7-2.
McDougall was the first hat-trick scorer in history, but who is the player with the most hat-tricks in football?
Here you will find a list of footballers with the most hat-tricks in football history.
List of most hat-tricks in football
| Player | Career Status | Hat-tricks |
| Erwin Helmchen | Retired | 141+ |
| Josef Bican | Retired | 101 |
| Ferenc Deák | Retired | 100+ |
| Ronnie Rooke | Retired | 97 |
| Pelé | Retired | 92 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Active | 66 |
| Lionel Messi | Active | 59 |
| Robert Lewandowski | Active | 33 |
| Luis Suárez | Active | 30 |
| Harry Kane | Active | 24 |
| Erling Haaland | Active | 24 |
| Neymar | Active | 21 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimović | Retired | 20 |
| Kylian Mbappé | Active | 21 |
| Edinson Cavani | Retired | 13 |
| Sergio Agüero | Retired | 13 |
