Football

The 21st Century’s Hat-Trick Heroes: Football’s Deadliest Scorers Ranked

Scoring a hat-trick is a milestone most footballers never reach—but for the elite few, it’s become almost a habit. From global icons to regional legends, here are the 20 players with the most hat-tricks in the 21st century, ranked from least to most. Each one has netted at least 18 trebles since the year 2000, proving just how rare and remarkable the feat truly is.

Sergio Aguero (Argentina) – 18 Hat-Tricks

Sergio Agüero
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Aguero was a nightmare for defenders at both Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, where he built a reputation for scoring with ease. Despite retiring early due to a heart condition, he still managed an impressive 18 career hat-tricks.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Netherlands) – 18 Hat-Tricks

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Ververidis Vasilis / Shutterstock.com

Known for his predatory instincts in front of goal, Huntelaar tallied 18 hat-tricks playing for clubs like Ajax, Schalke, and Real Madrid. His clinical finishing earned him a place among Europe’s most consistent scorers.

Mario Gomez (Germany) – 18 Hat-Tricks

Mario Gomez
Pavel17, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gomez matched Huntelaar's tally, shining especially at Bayern Munich where he scored 113 goals in 174 games. Although he missed out on Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, his club career was nothing short of prolific.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) – 20 Hat-Tricks

Zlatan Ibrahimović
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The towering Swede scored goals in every way imaginable—from acrobatic volleys to long-range screamers. With 20 hat-tricks to his name, Zlatan left a legacy at clubs like PSG, Milan, and Manchester United.

Firas Al-Khatib (Syria) – 20 Hat-Tricks

Firas Al-Khatib
Doha Stadium Plus Qatar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A standout in Middle Eastern football, Al-Khatib netted 20 hat-tricks while playing in leagues across Kuwait, Iraq, and China. He also became Syria’s all-time top scorer with 36 goals in 72 appearances.

Kylian Mbappé (France) – 21 Hat-Tricks

Kylian Mbappé
Victor Velter / Shutterstock.com

At just 26, Mbappé already boasts 21 career hat-tricks and shows no signs of slowing down. Now lighting up Real Madrid, the French superstar is widely expected to climb even higher on this list in the years to come.

Neymar (Brazil) – 21 Hat-Tricks

Neymar
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Despite playing primarily as a winger, Neymar’s 21 hat-tricks highlight his elite attacking output. After dazzling for Barcelona and PSG, his return to Santos could see him add a few more to his name.

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Sebastián Tagliabúe (UAE) – 21 Hat-Tricks

Sebastián Tagliabúe
instagram/sebastian_tagliabue

The Argentine-born striker was lethal in the UAE Pro League, especially during his years at Al-Wahda. With 21 hat-tricks, he stands shoulder to shoulder with global megastars despite operating in less prominent leagues.

Aleksandar Duric (Singapore) – 22 Hat-Tricks

Aleksandar Duric
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Duric enjoyed a marathon career that stretched into his late 40s, racking up 22 hat-tricks along the way. His longevity helped him dominate the Singapore football scene and secure legendary status.

Abderrazak Hamdallah (Morocco) – 23 Hat-Tricks

Abderrazak Hamdallah
Mustapha Ennaimi, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A consistent threat in the Saudi Pro League, Hamdallah has outscored some of the biggest names in football with 23 career hat-tricks. His goalscoring exploits have earned him respect far beyond Morocco.

Marc Lloyd Williams (Wales) – 24 Hat-Tricks

wales
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Best known for his time at Bangor City, Lloyd Williams scored 345 goals in 576 matches. His 24 hat-tricks included a stunning 47-goal season in 2001/02—Europe’s top total that year, even if unrecognized with the Golden Boot.

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Vyacheslav Zahovaiko (Estonia) – 26 Hat-Tricks

Vyacheslav Zahovaiko
Piret Ahman, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

Zahovaiko was a legend at FC Flora, with a record that included 26 hat-tricks and an average of 1.2 goals per game in 2006. His international form may have been modest, but domestically, he was unstoppable.

Erling Haaland (Norway) – 26 Hat-Tricks

Erling Haaland
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At only 25, Haaland already has 26 hat-tricks to his name and seems destined to top this list one day. With his explosive form at Manchester City, his numbers are climbing at a frightening pace.

Harry Kane (England) – 27 Hat-Tricks

Harry Kane
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England’s record scorer continues to add to his tally with Bayern Munich after leaving Tottenham. With 27 hat-tricks, Kane is far from finished and could soon break into the top five.

Ali Mabkhout (UAE) – 27 Hat-Tricks

Ali Mabkhout
Mohammad Moussa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A legend at Al Jazira and now with Al-Nasr SC, Mabkhout has scored consistently for both club and country. Despite being lesser known globally, his 27 hat-tricks speak volumes about his quality.

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Luis Suárez (Uruguay) – 30 Hat-Tricks

Luis Suárez
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Suárez is one of the most feared strikers of his era, with 30 hat-tricks across spells at Ajax, Liverpool, and Barcelona. Now at Inter Miami, he still has time to add a few more to his career total.

Robert Lewandowski (Poland) – 33 Hat-Tricks

Robert Lewandowski
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Lewandowski’s ability to score in every competition, including the Champions League and Bundesliga, is unmatched. His 33 hat-tricks are a testament to his technical brilliance and elite positioning.

Ali Ashfaq (Maldives) – 35 Hat-Tricks

Ali Ashfaq
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The pride of Maldivian football, Ashfaq was a dominant force in regional leagues and on the international stage. His 35 hat-tricks make him one of the most prolific scorers in Asian football history.

Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 59 Hat-Tricks

Even playing wide for most of his career, Messi has delivered 59 hat-tricks with his trademark genius. Still active and scoring regularly in MLS, he continues to redefine greatness with every match.

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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 66 Hat-Tricks

Cristiano Ronaldo
Dmytro Larin / Shutterstock.com

Ronaldo sits alone at the top with 66 hat-tricks and counting. From Manchester United to Real Madrid and now Al Nassr, his longevity, dedication, and clinical finishing make him the undisputed king of hat-tricks.