Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick: Scoring a hat-trick is a great achievement that shows skill, calmness, and a natural ability to score goals. Doing this at a young age is even more special, as it shows both talent and maturity.
Whether playing for their club or country, these young players have made their mark in football by doing something many experienced players only dream of. From breaking records in local leagues to excelling on the world stage, their stories inspire future footballers everywhere.
Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick
Here, we talk about the youngest players to score a hat-trick for their club or country and recognize their great achievements.
Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick for a Club Team
First, let’s talk about the youngest players to score a hat-trick for a club.
1. Ntinos Pontikas (Greece) – 14 Years, 198 Days (1996)
- Match: Ampelokipoi 4–3 Haravgi
- Division: 5th Tier, Greece
Ntinos Pontikas is the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a match. Despite his early talent, his career didn’t go further due to limited opportunities.
Pontikas scored all three goals for Ampelokipoi in a 4–3 win, breaking Paulino Alcántara’s 1912 record and becoming the youngest hat-trick scorer in football history.
2. Paulino Alcántara (Philippines/Spain) – 15 Years, 140 Days (1912)
- Match: Barcelona 9–0 Català
- Division: Catalan Championship (1st Division)
Paulino Alcántara was a football legend at FC Barcelona, scoring 369 goals in 357 matches, a record that lasted almost 90 years. He helped Barcelona win many titles and also played for the Philippines and Spain, leading the Philippines to a historic win over Japan in 1917.
In 2007, FIFA named him one of the greatest strikers of the 20th century. On his senior debut for Barcelona in 1912, Alcántara scored three goals. He continued to score multiple hat-tricks before turning 17, including one in a 11–1 Copa de España win over Català at just 16 years old.
3. Amy Wilding (United Kingdom) – 15 Years, 220 Days (2003)
- Match: CTC Ladies vs. Camberley Town Ladies (Russell Cup)
- Division: 7th Tier, Women’s Football
Amy Wilding scored her hat-trick for a local women’s team in the UK, showing her great potential at a young age.
Playing for Camberley Town Ladies, her three goals made her a part of the sport’s history. She became an important player in domestic women’s football, helping her club’s offense.
Wilding’s early talent earned her call-ups to youth national teams, where she contributed to the growth of women’s football. However, her career is mainly celebrated at the club level.
4. Lily Parr (United Kingdom) – 15 Years, 261 Days (1921)
- Match: Dick, Kerr Ladies 12–0 Bath Ladies
- Division: Women’s Football (Unspecified Tier)
Lily Parr was a pioneer in women’s football, playing for Dick, Kerr Ladies FC. She scored over 900 goals in her career, a record unmatched in women’s football. Her hat-tricks and strong performances attracted large crowds, even when women’s football faced many challenges.
Although there were no official international women’s teams during her time, Parr represented her club in exhibitions, helping promote the women’s game and inspiring future generations.
Parr scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford while playing for Dick, Kerr Ladies. Her remarkable career earned her recognition as one of the pioneers of women’s football.
5. Samuel Johnston (Republic of Ireland) – 16 Years, 159 Days (1883)
- Match: Distillery 5–0 Wellington Park (Irish Cup)
- Division: 1st Division, Ireland
Samuel Johnston was a young talent in Irish football, known for being one of the earliest players to score a hat-trick at a young age.
He played a key role in raising the level of competition in Irish club football during the late 19th century. His achievements set the stage for Irish football’s future success.
Johnston scored a hat-trick for Distillery in a 5–0 victory. This historic achievement remains an important milestone in Irish football.
6. Pelé (Brazil) – 16 Years, 197 Days (1957)
- Match: Santos 7–2 Fabril de Lavras
- Division: 5th Tier, Brazil (Friendly)
Pelé scored his first professional hat-trick for Santos FC at 16, beginning an amazing career. At Santos, he became the club’s all-time top scorer, winning many titles, including two Copa Libertadores and two Intercontinental Cups.
For Brazil, Pelé won three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970), scoring in key matches and becoming a global football legend. His achievements secured his place as one of the greatest players ever.
Pelé made his mark with a hat-trick in a friendly match against Fabril de Lavras. He became the youngest South American and professional player to score a hat-trick, further solidifying his legacy in football history.
7. Trevor Francis (England) – 16 Years, 306 Days (1971)
- Match: Birmingham City 4–0 Bolton Wanderers
- Division: 2nd Tier, England
Trevor Francis made his mark with Birmingham City, scoring his first hat-trick and showcasing his speed and skill. He had a successful career in English football and became the first £1 million player when he moved to Nottingham Forest. At Forest, he scored the winning goal in the 1979 European Cup final.
Francis also represented England, earning 52 caps and scoring 12 goals, becoming a key player in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Trevor Francis scored all four goals in Birmingham City’s win over Bolton Wanderers. His record as the youngest English player to do so remains a testament to his talent.
8. Nicolás Siri (Uruguay) – 16 Years, 348 Days (2021)
- Match: Danubio 5–1 Boston River
- Division: 1st Division, Uruguay
Nicolás Siri scored his hat-trick for Danubio in Uruguay’s Primera División. Early in his career, Siri has a bright future and has already represented Uruguay’s youth teams, with hopes of joining the senior national team soon.
Nicolás Siri made history by scoring a hat-trick on his senior debut in the Uruguayan top flight. His three goals helped Danubio to a 5–1 win, making him the youngest player to score a top-division hat-trick in Uruguay.
Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick for National Team
Scoring a hat-trick for your national team is a rare achievement. When done at a young age, it shows great talent and composure. Here are the youngest players to score a hat-trick for their country.
1. Alina Litvinenko (Kyrgyzstan) – 13 Years, 131 Days (2009)
- Match: Kyrgyzstan 4–1 Palestine
- Gender: Female
Alina Litvinenko made history at just 13 years old by becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick for her national team. Playing for Kyrgyzstan against the Maldives in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, she set a record.
Although her international career didn’t advance as expected, she continued to develop in local leagues.
2. József Horváth (Hungary) – 16 Years, 193 Days (1907)
- Match: Hungary 5–2 Bohemia
- Gender: Male
József Horváth made a remarkable start to his international career by scoring three goals for Hungary in a friendly match against Bohemia, becoming the youngest male player to score a hat-trick for a national team.
He was one of Hungary’s brightest young forwards in the early 20th century, though his career was affected by political and global events.
3. Haley Bugeja (Malta) – 16 Years, 205 Days (2020)
- Match: Malta 4–0 Georgia
- Gender: Female
Haley Bugeja made history in 2020 by scoring a hat-trick for Malta against Georgia in a UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 qualifier, becoming the youngest player to do so for her country.
She is Known for her skill and maturity, and plays as a forward and later joined Italian club Sassuolo in Serie A. Bugeja is one of Malta’s most promising footballers.
4. Julie Fleeting (Scotland) – 16 Years, 259 Days (1997)
- Match: Scotland 7–1 Estonia
- Gender: Female
Julie Fleeting made a mark for Scotland by scoring a hat-trick at just 16 years old, quickly becoming one of Europe’s top young talents. She went on to become Scotland’s all-time top scorer with over 100 international goals. Fleeting also had a successful club career in England and Sweden.
She scored four goals in a FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against Estonia. Four days later, she netted another hat-trick in a 5–0 win over Lithuania, showcasing her exceptional scoring ability.
5. Christine Sinclair (Canada) – 17 Years, 16 Days (2000)
- Match: Canada 12–0 Guatemala
- Gender: Female
Christine Sinclair is a Canadian football legend, known for being the highest-scoring international player in women’s football. At 17, she scored a hat-trick for Canada in a friendly against Germany.
Sinclair went on to break several records, including surpassing Abby Wambach’s goal-scoring record, and became a key player for both Canada and her club teams, winning multiple CONCACAF championships and Olympic medals.
Sinclair marked her 17th birthday with a hat-trick in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, giving a glimpse of her legendary career.
6. Lee Wai Tong (Beiyang Government/China) – 17 Years, 212 Days (1923)
- Match: China 5–1 Japan
- Gender: Male
Lee Wai Tong became the youngest male player to score a hat-trick in a competitive international match, leading China to victory over Japan in the Far Eastern Games final at Yahataya Park in Osaka.
His performance was a key moment in early Chinese football, helping lay the foundation for the sport’s growth in the region. Though his career was short, Lee’s impact was significant.
7. Pelé (Brazil) – 17 Years, 244 Days (1958
- Match: Brazil 5–2 France
- Gender: Male
Pelé’s legendary career began with a stunning hat-trick for Brazil at just 17 years old during the 1958 FIFA World Cup, cementing his place in football history. He went on to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970) and is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
In 1958 World Cup semi-final against France, Pelé became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in World Cup history.
Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick in Europe’s Top 5 Leagues
Scoring a hat-trick in one of Europe’s top leagues at a young age shows great talent. Here’s a look at the youngest player to do this:
1. Jérémy Ménez (France) – 17 Years, 255 Days (2004
- Match: Sochaux 4–0 Bordeaux
- Competition: Ligue 1
Jérémy Ménez made history as one of the youngest players to score a hat-trick in one of Europe’s top five leagues. He achieved this at just 17 years and 255 days old in 2004. His performance showed his great talent and potential as a future star.
He played for top clubs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Roma, and Marseille. At PSG, he helped the team win Ligue 1 and compete in UEFA Champions League campaigns.
Ménez also played for the French national team, including in the UEFA Euro 2012. Though his career didn’t reach the heights many expected, his hat-trick at such a young age is still a key highlight.
Jérémy Ménez made history by scoring a hat-trick for Sochaux in a 4-0 win over Bordeaux.
Youngest Players to Score a Hat-Trick in a Continental Club Competition
Playing on a continental stage brings even more prestige to a young player’s early career. Here’s the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a major club competition:
1. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 17 Years, 18 Days (1993)
- Match: Cruzeiro 6–1 Colo-Colo
- Competition: Supercopa Libertadores
Ronaldo, at just 17 years and 18 days old, made history by scoring a hat-trick for Cruzeiro in the 1993 Copa Libertadores. His incredible talent, including dribbling, speed, and finishing, quickly caught the attention of top European clubs.
Ronaldo went on to become one of the greatest players in football, winning multiple Ballon d’Or titles and leading Brazil to World Cup victories in 1994 and 2002.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Cruzeiro in a 6-1 win over Colo-Colo in the Supercopa Libertadores, marking the start of his legendary career.