Scoring a hat-trick is a very challenging task - at least for some. Some of the finest football forwards go through their careers without scoring 3 goals in a single match. However, contrary to that, there are some for whom scoring a hat-trick becomes second nature. Take Cristiano Ronaldo as a prime example - the Portuguese legend has made scoring hat-tricks seem effortless. Of course, this article not only mentions CR7 but also many other legends. Let's delve into the details of the Top 10 football players with most hat tricks right away with admin Wintips.
The list of football players with most hat tricks ever - Top 10
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (65 hat tricks)
Speaking of Messi's outstanding record of reaching 57 hat-tricks, Ronaldo has managed to maintain a fairly good gap between himself and his arch-rival. Eight more hat-tricks - with the majority coming from Los Blancos - may be attributed to his several years playing as a central striker, but no matter how you look at it, the Portuguese international has claimed this crown.
It's not surprising, given that Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal scorer and will seek to extend that record beyond reach in the latter years of his career with Al Nassr, assuming he eventually moves on in the coming years. Scoring two hat-tricks within four days surely won't hurt. With the superhuman nature of a striker, no one would be surprised to see him continue to excel at the age of 40.
2. Lionel Messi (57 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
Scoring 91 goals in a calendar year may only rank second on this list, but it must be said that 57 hat-tricks is absolutely mind-blowing. Lionel Messi has been a joy to watch for many years, and statistics like these have almost become commonplace, but for someone who spent much of his career on the right wing, scoring three goals in 57 different matches is unbelievable.
MLS is Messi's new home after he signed with Inter Miami in the summer 2023 transfer window, and American soccer has never seen anything like the Argentine superstar. We would be very surprised if this number doesn't rise even higher when the 36-year-old player eventually decides to hang up his boots.
3. Ali Ashfaq (35 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
Ali Ashfaq may not be a household name for many football fans, as he has primarily played in the Maldives, his homeland. Playing for a total of 13 clubs throughout his career, this forward has scored more goals than appearances for 7 of them.
His scoring prowess has also translated to international football, where Ashfaq has scored 58 goals in 98 matches for the Maldives. Currently playing for Club Eagles in his homeland, the striker's career has spanned over two decades. The 38-year-old player might even add more hat-tricks to his record and solidify his position as a contender for the top spot in this list, having earned a silver medal in it.
4. Robert Lewandowski (31 hat tricks)
Robert Lewandowski holds the record for the most hat-tricks in a Bundesliga season with 5, matching Gomez, who is also featured on this list. Moreover, the Polish forward has scored hat-tricks for three different clubs in the Champions League, achieving the feat for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
With six hat-tricks for his country, he certainly has the potential to replicate that at the international level. As Kane is experiencing, playing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga provides ample goal-scoring opportunities, and Lewandowski is the best at converting them. He is the second-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history with 312 goals, trailing only Gerd Muller.
5. Luis Suarez (30 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
Luis Suarez has sometimes been underrated in his role as a goal scorer, especially during his time at Barcelona where Lionel Messi's brilliance garnered much attention. His tally of 30 hat-tricks throughout his career demonstrates his prowess in front of goal.
His stints at Ajax, Liverpool, and Barcelona yielded numerous goals, showcasing his excellent technical ability and winning mentality. As mentioned, another hat-trick was recently added to Suarez's goal tally in a match against Gremio. Like others on the list, he is still playing and has the opportunity to add a few more hat-tricks to his name in MLS with Inter Miami.
6. Ali Mabkhout (27 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
As a prolific goal scorer, Ali Mabkhout has only played for Al Jazira throughout his career. His tally of 217 goals in 292 league matches is staggering, and fans of the club will be saddened when he eventually hangs up his boots.
Mabkhout is the all-time leading goal scorer for the UAE Pro League club, and he has also netted 9 hat-tricks for his country. While he may be overlooked as a less-known figure in the football world, the feat of scoring nearly 30 hat-tricks at all levels is highly impressive. Most fans would struggle to achieve that in their local Sunday league!
7. Vyacheslav Zahovaiko (26 hat tricks)
With 26 hat-tricks, Vyacheslav Zahovaiko has achieved an impressive feat by any standard. The Estonian striker netted 121 goals during his time at FC Flora in his homeland from 1999 to 2019. In 2006, he was the most efficient forward in front of goal, averaging 1.2 goals per game in the Gregorian calendar.
To have a career spanning three decades, Zahovaiko deserves his flowers, with a legendary status cemented in the annals of FC Flora's history. However, his international career wasn't as successful, as he only managed to score 8 goals in 39 appearances for Estonia.
8. Marc Lloyd Williams (24 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
The Welsh forward dedicated his career to playing in lower leagues in England as well as the top league in his homeland. His career saw him score 345 goals in 576 matches, including 24 hat-tricks during that time. Marc Lloyd Williams has now been retired for almost a decade, with his most impressive stint being at Bangor City, where he scored 68 goals in 55 matches.
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In the 2001/02 season, Williams was the top scorer in Europe with 47 goals while playing for Bangor City. However, due to the Welsh Premier League having a lower goal-scoring coefficient, he wasn't recognized for his outstanding performance with the European Golden Shoe award. Marc Lloyd Williams (24 hat tricks)
9. Harry Kane (22 hat tricks) - Football players with most hat tricks
The player with the most goals in England's national team history and the leading goal scorer of all time for Tottenham is always among these players. Having more hat-tricks than players of the caliber of Aguero, Gomez, and Huntelaar is truly impressive, especially considering Harry Kane is still playing and is only 30 years old, while the others have retired.
Kane left England after scoring 18 hat-tricks and added 4 more to that list at Bayern Munich. The pace at which the English player, one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, finds the back of the net signifies that he hasn't quite finished his job yet.
10. Aleksandar Duric (22 hat tricks)
Aleksandar Duric played nearly three decades, with the 53-year-old player retiring in 2019 at the age of 49 after a career that saw him play for 18 clubs. His 22 hat-tricks showcase the ability and goal-scoring prowess he possessed throughout his playing years.
Playing for such a long time might have worked in his favor as he had more time to rack up hat-tricks compared to his peers. Longevity doesn't always equate to success in football, but Aleksandar Duric had significant playing years marked by hat-trick performances and for that, we congratulate him.
Conclude
You can achieve a hat-trick without scoring all 3 goals consecutively in a match. Goals can occur within regular time, through a penalty kick, or even in extra time. However, you do not earn a hat-trick in a penalty shootout if the match is decided after 120 minutes. Above is the list of the most football players with most hat tricks in history. This information is compiled by the bookmaker in betting website from reputable and accurate statistical sources. So, rest assured when receiving sports knowledge from us.
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