Every goal in football is great but hat tricks are something special. As everyone who has ever played football knows, putting the ball in the back of the net is the hardest thing to do, so getting three goals in one game is a remarkable feat. There are some players, however, who make it look easy. This article is our pick of the three best hat tricks of all time.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal 3-Spain 3) June 2018
Going into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Portugal had been widely described as a one-man team, and this game against Spain only confirmed the label.
The team as a side was pretty poor and found themselves with their backs against the wall for much of the game, but the man for the big occasions stepped up as he always does. Many Ronaldo fans believe this was his greatest ever performance and it is hard to argue with that assessment.
The game was like Ronaldo vs Spain for most of the match and whilst Portugal had taken the lead twice through Ronaldo, defeat seemed inevitable as they were 3-2 down with minutes to go. But cometh the hour, cometh the man, and a textbook Ronaldo freekick to complete an amazing hat trick saw Portugal draw with their fierce rivals. A Ronaldo masterclass in goal scoring!
2. Wayne Rooney (Man United 6-2 Fenerbahce) September 2004
An old teammate of Ronaldo’s, Wayne Rooney was another man who was born for the big stage and there are few bigger stages than a Champions League debut. Rooney, still yet a teenager, shrugged the occasion off and scored his first of the night after just 17 minutes of the game.
Rooney added another with a dazzling display of footwork not long after and finished off a perfect night with a stunning free-kick. A hero was born at Old Trafford that night and Rooney went on to become Manchester United’s record goalscorer.
3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid) March 2007
Three years after Wayne Rooney’s hat trick made the world sit up and take notice, another highly tipped youngster scored his first professional hat trick to launch the career of the man who many consider being the greatest player of all time.
Playing against his team’s bitter rivals Real Madrid, Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass in footballing genius which had Barcelona fans shaking their heads and wondering what exactly they had just witnessed. Barcelona fell behind three times in the game, but every time Lionel Messi drew them back level.
Even so, all seemed lost as Madrid looked to be hanging on to a 3-2 lead before Messi dribbled through the entire Madrid defense and smashed a leveler home into the far corner. Many more hat tricks have followed, but none may be so important as that first one for the little magician.
There is just something about a hat trick that touches the imagination of every football fan. Goal scoring is an art form and players who can bag a hat trick are like the Picassos and Rembrandts of the footballing world. Whether it’s securing a win for your team, rescuing a point against your bitter rivals, or announcing yourself on the world stage, there is no better way in football than a hat trick!
