A hat-trick (scoring three goals in a single match) is always anticipated with immense enthusiasm by football fans all over the globe, especially when it occurs at the most prestigious football tournament of them all—the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup is currently only about halfway through its rigorous group stage, yet two spectacular hat-tricks have already been recorded: Lionel Messi achieved the feat in Argentina’s commanding 3-0 victory over Algeria, and Jonathan David netted three times during Canada’s overwhelming 6-0 demolition of Qatar.
In total, throughout the extensive history of the tournament, there have been 56 hat-tricks scored in the World Cup finals, with each carrying its own entirely unique and captivating backstory.
The Fastest Hat-Tricks
Back in June of 1954, a mere 24 minutes after the opening whistle blew, striker Erich Probst successfully scored a hat-trick by finding the back of the net in the 4th, 21st, and 24th minutes. His remarkable early performance helped the Austrian national team absolutely crush Czechoslovakia 5-0 during the group stage. Even before his flurry of goals, his teammate Ernst Stojaspal had already given Austria an early lead in the 3rd minute of the game.
Erich Probst’s achievement rightfully remains the fastest hat-trick ever recorded from the start of a match in World Cup history. However, if one specifically considers the shortest time elapsed between the first and third goals being scored, Probst’s record is not the quickest. That particular milestone is held by Hungarian player LászlĂł Kiss, who sensationally scored a hat-trick in a lightning-fast span of just 7 minutes and 42 seconds during the 1982 World Cup, in a thrilling match against El Salvador.
The Youngest and the Oldest
Up until this very day, the legendary Pelé remains the absolute youngest player to ever score a hat-trick at the World Cup. On June 24, 1958, when Brazil famously defeated France 5-2 in the first semi-final match, he was merely 17 years and 244 days old. To add to his phenomenal legacy, Pelé is also the one and only player to have ever scored a hat-trick in the tournament before even reaching his 18th birthday.
In stark contrast to PelĂ©’s youthful achievement, Lionel Messi officially stands as the oldest player to ever score a hat-trick at the World Cup. During the opening matches of the 2026 World Cup, Messi brilliantly scored all three goals to help Argentina defeat Algeria 3-0, achieving this extraordinary milestone when he was precisely 38 years and 357 days old.
The Most Hat-Tricks Scored in the World Cup
As of the present moment, only three exceptional players have ever managed to score more than a single hat-trick in the World Cup. These legendary figures are: Just Fontaine from France (who, in 1958, scored an incredible four goals against West Germany and also secured a hat-trick against Paraguay), Sándor Kocsis from Hungary (who, in 1954, scored his very first hat-trick in a massive 9-0 victory over South Korea, followed by a four-goal performance in an 8-3 win against West Germany), and Gerd Müller from Germany (who, during the 1970 tournament, impressively scored separate hat-tricks against both Bulgaria and Peru).
Furthermore, if we are exclusively considering hat-tricks spread across two entirely different World Cup tournaments, Gabriel Batistuta stands alone as the only player to have ever achieved more than one. The prolific Argentine striker famously scored three goals against Greece during the 1994 World Cup, before remarkably adding another hat-trick exactly four years later at the 1998 tournament hosted in France, this time unleashing his goal-scoring prowess against Jamaica.
Hat-Tricks in the Final Match
In the year 1966, England proudly hosted the World Cup, and it was during this tournament that Geoff Hurst cemented his legacy by becoming the first player in World Cup history to score a hat-trick in the grand final. His unforgettable three-goal performance at the iconic Wembley Stadium crucially helped England secure a thrilling 4-2 victory against West Germany.
Fast forward to the year 2022, and that same final-match magic was miraculously repeated. Kylian MbappĂ© dramatically scored three goals for the French national team during the tournament’s final match. However, despite his heroic individual efforts, it was still ultimately not quite enough for France to successfully defend their title and win the championship.
Argentina, expertly led by Lionel Messi, put on an outstanding team performance, eventually taking the match to a tense penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw in extra time. In the end, the resilient South American squad emerged victorious, winning 4-2 in the shootout to claim the ultimate prize.
