What is a hat-trick?
Quick answer
A hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a single game, most often used in soccer (football) and ice hockey. The term comes from cricket in the 1850s, where a bowler who took three wickets with three consecutive balls was given a hat as a reward.
Where the term comes from
In 1858, English cricketer H. H. Stephenson took three wickets in three balls. Fans collected money and bought him a hat to celebrate. The phrase “hat-trick” spread to other sports and then to everyday language, meaning three successes in a row.
Hat-tricks in different sports
| Sport | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Soccer | Three goals by one player in one match |
| Ice hockey | Three goals by one player; fans throw hats onto the ice |
| Cricket | Three wickets with three consecutive deliveries |
| Rugby | Three tries by one player |
| Motor racing | Pole position, fastest lap and the win in one race |
| Everyday use | Three wins in a row, such as three straight titles |
Special hat-tricks in soccer
- Perfect hat-trick: one goal with the right foot, one with the left foot and one header.
- Fastest hat-trick in the Premier League: Sadio Mané, in 2 minutes 56 seconds for Southampton in 2015.
- Most World Cup hat-tricks: a few players share the record with two, including Pelé and Gabriel Batistuta.
- World Cup final hat-tricks: Geoff Hurst (England, 1966) and Kylian Mbappé (France, 2022, though France lost on penalties).
The ball
In soccer, the player who scores a hat-trick traditionally keeps the match ball, often signed by teammates.
Related terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Brace | Two goals in one game |
| Haul | Four or more goals (informal) |
| Natural hat-trick | Three consecutive goals with no other player scoring between them |
For football history, see who won the first World Cup. For the top individual award, see who won the Ballon d’Or.
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