Top 8 football players with most hat tricks – Pepe surpasses Ronaldo
In football, a hat-trick is when a player scores three goals in a match. Therefore, not all players can achieve this feat. Here are the top 8 football players with most hat tricks. Let’s see with Premiumsoccertips who is the leader.
Top 8 football players with most hat tricks
In the 21st century, football has seen the prominence of many outstanding players capable of scoring excellent goals, and some of them have performed many impressive hat-tricks.
1. Pepe – 92 hat trick
Ronaldo and Messi, the two top superstars in world football, have left incredibly impressive marks in their careers. However, both seem to face difficulties in surpassing the hat-trick record of the “soccer king” Pele, who is recognized to have scored an impressive 92 hat-tricks. The accuracy of this record remains a matter of debate, as the statistics are often murky and unclear.
Pepe, also known by the nickname Pele, is not only one of the greatest players in football history but also someone who left a special mark with his record of hat-tricks. However, accurately determining how many times he achieved this feat remains a contentious issue. In the past, recording and documenting matches were not as systematic as they are today, making it difficult and prone to errors when counting Pele’s hat-tricks. Therefore, despite being acknowledged as the player with the most hat-tricks in history, Pele’s record continues to be disputed and presents many challenges in determining its accuracy.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 57 hat tricks
Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal scorer for both Real Madrid and the Portugal national team. At Real Madrid, he scored a series of hat-tricks and helped the club secure three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018. Particularly, in the 2014-2015 season, Ronaldo scored 8 hat-tricks in one season, an unprecedented achievement.
Additionally, the Portuguese superstar holds the record for most goals in the Champions League and has surpassed goal-scoring records at the national team level with 115 goals.
In their most recent match, the Portugal national team easily defeated Luxembourg 5-0 in a World Cup 2022 qualifying match. In this match, CR7 scored 3 goals, becoming the player with the most hat-tricks for the national team with a total of 10. Clearly, these are goal-scoring records that not every player can break.
3. Lionel Messi – 55 hat tricks
The next name on the list of players with the most hat-tricks in the world is none other than Messi. Under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola, Messi became an outstanding forward and scored many important goals.
At Barcelona, Messi won numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League and La Liga, and scored many impressive hat-tricks. He has won multiple Ballon d’Or titles and is considered one of the greatest players in football history. Particularly, in the 2011-2012 season, Messi set a record by scoring 91 goals in the same year.
Most recently, the Argentine superstar scored 3 goals in the victory against Bolivia in the South American World Cup 2022 qualifying match. Messi officially surpassed the legend Pele to become the player with the most goals for a South American team, marking his 55th career hat-trick.
4. Luis Suarez – 29 hat tricks
After leaving Barcelona, Luis Suarez maintained his class at Atletico Madrid. In the 2020-2021 season, the Uruguayan striker scored 21 goals and helped the club win the La Liga title. Prior to that, Suarez had impressive performances at Ajax Amsterdam with 111 goals in 159 appearances, leading him to join Liverpool in 2011.
At Liverpool, he set many records and scored numerous hat-tricks, including an impressive hat-trick against Norwich City in the 2012-2013 season. Suarez became one of the top forwards in the world and won the European Golden Shoe in this season. In total, the Uruguayan player has 29 hat-tricks to his name.
5. Robert Lewandowski – 24 hat tricks
Certainly, many are aware that Lewandowski is the best striker in Polish football today. He is considered the number one forward in Europe and a contender for the 2021 Ballon d’Or. Additionally, the Polish player achieved hat-tricks in the Bundesliga before moving to Barcelona.
In 2010, the Polish striker joined Borussia Dortmund and showcased his excellence by helping the team win the Bundesliga title. He scored many goals for the Black and Yellow, with the most impressive being a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final in 2012.
In 2014, Lewandowski moved to Bayern Munich and continued his successful career. At Bayern, he scored many hat-tricks and won numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League and multiple Bundesliga titles. In the 2019-2020 season, the Polish forward scored 34 goals in the Bundesliga, setting a new record.
6. Mario Gomez – 18 hat tricks
Although not among the most prominent stars in football, Mario Gomez shines with his title as the “hat-trick king,” being the player with the most hat-tricks in the world. After joining Bayern Munich in 2009, Gomez quickly became an integral part of the team. With his excellent shooting ability and accurate finishing, he made significant contributions to Bayern Munich’s success in winning important titles like the Bundesliga and Champions League.
In his career, the Spanish forward has shone with a series of impressive hat-tricks. In the 2010-2011 season, Gomez had an outstanding performance, scoring a total of 39 goals in the Bundesliga, greatly contributing to Bayern Munich’s success. Perfect ability to capitalize on opportunities and impressive goal-scoring abilities have made Mario Gomez one of the top forwards in the world.
7. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – 18 hat tricks
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, one of the most experienced and reputable forwards in world football, has made a significant mark in his illustrious career. With speed and accurate shooting ability, the Dutch striker has made a name for himself by scoring impressive goals in every phase of his career.
After playing for PSV, Huntelaar moved to several top clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Schalke 04, and Ajax Amsterdam. At each club he was associated with, he continued to demonstrate his goal-scoring prowess and set many hat-trick records. In the 2011-2012 season, Huntelaar shone with 29 goals in the Bundesliga for Schalke 04 and subsequently won the European Golden Shoe, affirming his position in the football world.
In June 2020, the Dutch forward decided to retire from professional football, marking a bittersweet end to a successful career as Schalke 04 endured a difficult season and finished in a relegation position. Throughout his career, Huntelaar has left a deep imprint on fans’ hearts and become an icon of world football.
8. Sergio Aguero – 18 hat tricks
Sergio Agüero has scored more hat-tricks than any other player in the 21st century. After joining Atletico Madrid in 2016, he became an indispensable part of the team, especially as he helped Atletico win the UEFA Europa League and Supercopa de España.
In 2011, Agüero moved to Manchester City, where he continuously scored goals and set many hat-trick records. With relentless efforts, the Argentine player scored 12 hat-tricks in the Premier League while playing for Man City.
Additionally, Sergio Agüero also achieved the highest goal-scoring record in Manchester City’s history. However, in the summer transfer window of 2021, he decided to leave the Etihad Stadium to join Barcelona. This marked the end of a successful career at Manchester City and opened a new chapter in his career at the new club.
Conclude
Thus, scoring many hat-tricks not only shows the excellence and talent of the players, but also a testament to their ability to make important and decisive goals in matches. These football players with most hat tricks are not only typical people of their generation, but also symbols of greatness and success in football, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of fans and will be remembered forever in football history.
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