Every footballer dreams of scoring three goals in a single match, sometimes known as a hat trick. It demonstrates a player’s tremendous skill, acute instincts, and overall dominance on the field.
While some players score a hat-trick once in their careers and enjoy the memory forever, others make it a habit, scaring both goalkeepers and defenders. These players have etched their names into football history by constantly demonstrating their goal-scoring abilities and become game legends. Here are the top five footballers with the most hat-tricks in history.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (65 Hat-Tricks)
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best footballers of all time, presently has the most hat-tricks in football history, with a remarkable 65. Ronaldo, known for his versatility and ability to score from practically anywhere on the pitch, has scored hat-tricks for several clubs and his national team.
His journey began with Sporting CP, where he scored three hat-tricks before joining Manchester United. He scored three more goals for United before embarking on an unbelievable run at Real Madrid. Ronaldo cemented his reputation as a goal-scoring machine at Real Madrid, when he scored an incredible 44 hat tricks.
Ronaldo added eight more goals after joining Juventus, and he has continued to impress at Al-Nassr, scoring seven hat-tricks. In addition, he has 12 hat-tricks with the Portuguese national team, cementing his legacy.
2. Lionel Messi (54 Hat-Tricks)
Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s longtime rival and another football legend, is closely following him. Messi is famed for his amazing dribbling, vision, and finishing ability, having scored 54 hat-tricks in his career. Messi spent the majority of his career at FC Barcelona, where he scored 36 hat tricks.
Messi earned three additional hat-tricks after joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and he currently has one hat-trick at Inter Miami. Messi has been a crucial player for Argentina on the international level, scoring 14 hat-tricks and leading the team to numerous victories.
3. Pelé (50+ Hat-Tricks)
Pelé, a Brazilian icon, is widely recognized as one of the greatest footballers of all time, with an incredible goal-scoring record. Pelé is thought to have scored more than 50 hat-tricks during his legendary career.
Pelé scored 28 hat-tricks for Santos during his career, demonstrating his dominance in Brazilian football. After moving to the New York Cosmos in the United States, he added four more hat-tricks to his total. Pelé scored 18 hat-tricks for the Brazilian national team, adding to his legacy in world football.
4. Jimmy Jones (47 Hat-Tricks)
Jimmy Jones, a Northern Irish player, may not be as well-known as Ronaldo or Messi, but his goal-scoring talent was famous during his age. Jones scored 47 hat-tricks during his career, predominantly in the Irish leagues.
Jones scored 31 hat-tricks while playing for Belfast Celtic, where he established himself as a star striker. After moving to Derry City, he added 16 more hat-tricks to his outstanding record, cementing his place as one of Northern Ireland’s best goal scorers.
5. Gabriel Batistuta (46 Hat-Tricks)
Argentinian striker Gabriel Batistuta, widely regarded as one of the best attackers of his period, scored an incredible 46 hat-tricks during his playing career. Batistuta was recognized for his strong shooting and clinical finishing, especially in Serie A, where he became a fan favorite.
Batistuta scored 27 hat-tricks for Fiorentina, boosting the squad to unprecedented heights. He eventually moved to Roma and scored eight hat-tricks. Batistuta also shone for the Argentina national team, scoring 11 hat-tricks and cementing his place as one of the country’s most devastating attackers.