New Delhi: International football is one of the most prestigious events on the sport’s calendar. When asked about their ultimate career goals, almost every footballer dreams of donning their national jersey and representing their country. The stage brings together some of the finest talents allowing fans to compete together and against each other. The performances at the international level are also viewed closely with intense interest and analysis.
Many players have made a name and mark for themselves in the game both at the club and country level. While it is a source of pride to score even a single goal for your country few selected have gone above and beyond, making it a habit to find the back of the net consistently on the international stage. The few who have specialized in the art of scoring set them apart from the rest as true footballing greats.
Let’s take a closer look at five players who have achieved the rare feat of scoring hat-tricks in men’s international football.
5. Pele – 7 hat-tricks
Pele after playing the final match of his incomparable career. (Image via @FIFAWorldCup ‘X’)
One of the greatest of all time Pele rose to fame with his remarkable performances for both Brazil and Santos. He was just 18 when he led Brazil to their first-ever World Cup title in 1958. He also scored in the final and became the first teenager to score in a World Cup main event.
Pele’s impact on Brazilian football and the nation’s sporting culture is unparalleled. His journey to legendary status began with his displays on the field for the Selecao. Known as “O Rei,” he scored an impressive 77 goals in 92 appearances for Brazil, making him the all-time leading scorer for the team that holds the most World Cup titles. In addition to this, he recorded seven hat-tricks on the international stage.
While many players struggle to win even one World Cup, Pele achieved an extraordinary feat by winning three with Brazil, a record no other player has matched. His monumental achievements in the sport earned him the “FIFA Player of the Century” honor in 2000.
4. Ali Daei – 8 hat-tricks
Iraninan legend Ali Daei. (Image via @FIFAcom ‘X’)
The Iranian legend Ali Daei is regarded as a certified legend of Asian football. Though he played for Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich at the club level, his legendary status was cemented during his time with the Iranian national team. He made a total of 149 appearances for his country and netted 109 goals.
Ali Daei’s time with the Iranian national team was marked by an impressive eight international hat-tricks. Daei now holds the distinction of being the third-highest goal scorer in international football after Lionel Messi surpassed him in August. Despite this Daei remains the highest-scoring Asian player of all time by a significant margin.
3. Sven Rydell – 9 hat-tricks
In a Swedish soccer match, Sven Rydell of Örgryte scores a goal against Hammarby. (Image via @100YearsAgoNews ‘X’)
One of the Swedish football icons Sven Rydell comes at number three on the list. He was the first big player out of Sweden, having scored 49 goals in 43 matches in his international football career.
Rydell spent his entire career in his homeland and for 80 years he held the record for highest scorer in Sweden until Zlatan Ibrahimovic surpassed him in 2014. What’s more remarkable is that in his tally of 49 goals he scored nine hat-tricks. That solidifies his position and makes him the deserving candidate on the list.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 10 hat-tricks
The Portuguese icon has made the number 7 synonymous with himself. (Photo by Tibor Illyes – Pool/Getty Images)
Any discussion about goals and records is incomplete without Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese goal machine held the record for most hat-tricks in men’s international football until Lionel Messi equalized with him on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old’s stats speak for themselves. Ronaldo is the highest goal scorer in international football (133) and even in football history (906). He has scored staggering 58 hat-tricks in his career including 10 international hat-tricks for his country.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10 hat-tricks for Portugal place him at the top of the list for players with the most hat-tricks in international football. He broke the previous record held by Sven Rydell after netting his 10th hat-trick against Luxembourg on October 12, 2021. With this achievement, he became the first footballer to reach double digits in international hat-tricks.
1. Lionel Messi – 10 hat-tricks
Lionel Messi after scoring his 10th for Argentina. (Image via @FabrizioRomano ‘X’)
The Argentine star Lionel Messi has scored the joint most hat-tricks in international football history. The 37-year-old has won everything there is to win and more. Messi has scored 58 hat-tricks in his career including 10 for Argentina.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored his first hat-trick for Argentina in 2012 and his 10th hat-trick came in yesterday’s match in front of his home crowd against Bolivia which Argentina won by a scoreline of 6-0. Messi is the second-highest goal-scorer in international football (110) and even the highest-scoring South American player in history.
Messi has scored a total of 846 goals for club and country throughout his professional career and is also the first and only player in history to win five and six European Golden Shoes. He has also won record 45 trophies.
