What is a Hat-trick? What does it mean in football?

Hat-trick at okebet casino

A hat-trick probably is the most common term one hears in football. It deals with a player being able to make three goals within a single match. The event is obviously the most outstanding and peculiar occurrence, qualifying as a highlight of any player’s career. Hat-trick is of great symbolic and motivational significance far beyond the mere scoring of goals, bearing on the entire team’s psyche.

Interestingly, even the term “hat-trick” (treble) is not unique to football, having been used in several different sports. In this article, let’s take a closer look at the meaning and origin of the term in football together with Okebet.

What Is a Hat-Trick?

A hat trick is a term often used in team sports like football, baseball, or hockey to describe a player scoring three goals in a single game.

The goals don’t need to be consecutive and can be scored during regular playtime or added time.

hat trick is a term often used in team sports like football, baseball, or hockey
hat trick is a term often used in team sports like football, baseball, or hockey

Due to the rarity of this feat, it has become a tradition for players who score a treble to be awarded the match ball as a token or symbolic souvenir.

When a player scores two goals in a match, sometimes called a “brace”, they are often described as being “on a hat-trick,” indicating that one more goal will complete the treble.

The Origins of the Hat-Trick

Hockey 101: The Origin of the Term Hat Trick
Hockey 101: The Origin of the Term Hat Trick

The term is used in many major sports, such as football, hockey, water polo, etc., but its origins can be traced back to cricket.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it was first used in 1858 after English cricketer H.H. Stephenson achieved the rare feat of taking three wickets with three consecutive deliveries in a match between an All-England team and Hallam.

In cricket, it is exceptionally rare for a player to knock down three stumps consecutively—far rarer than a footballer scoring three goals in a game. When this happened, it was celebrated as a major event.

Traditionally, spectators at the match would organize a collection to honor this exceptional accomplishment. The funds raised were used to purchase a hat for Stephenson, giving rise to the term “hat-trick”, which has since been used to describe any instance of achieving three feats.

From its use in cricket, the term “hat-trick” started being applied to other situations involving three achievements, points, or goals.

One such instance is in football. Soon after its adoption in cricket, players and fans began using “hat-trick” to describe a player scoring three goals in a football match, and its usage has endured to this day.

The Significance of a Hat-Trick

There is no official reward for scoring a treble in football, but there is a widely recognized tradition associated with it. Whenever a player scores a treble in a football match, they are often allowed to take home the official match ball as a keepsake.

While no formal football rules mandate that the match ball must go to the hat-trick scorer, it has become an essential and unwritten tradition. Football officials also permit the scorer to keep one of the match balls once the game concludes.

In some cases, teammates of the hat-trick scorer sign the football as a special memento.

What Is a Perfect Hat-Trick?

Explaning the 'Perfect' Hat-Trick in Football
Explaining the ‘Perfect’ Hat-Trick in Football

A perfect hat trick involves scoring three consecutive goals, but with a specific challenge: the player must score one goal with their head, one with their left foot, and the other with their right foot. A perfect hat trick is one of the rarest and most difficult accomplishments in football.

As of January 2022, only 34 players worldwide have achieved a perfect hat-trick in major tournaments. Notably, Robbie Fowler has accomplished this feat three times, while Yakubu has done so twice.

Football Players with the Most Hat-Tricks

Legendary Brazilian footballer Pele
Legendary Brazilian footballer Pele

According to the Guinness World Records, Brazilian legend Pelé holds the record for the most treble, with an astonishing 92. However, due to incomplete historical records, these figures may spark debate. Nevertheless, there is little doubt about his status as one of the greatest footballers of his era.

Pelé remains the youngest player to score a treble at a World Cup. At just 17 years and 244 days old, he frequently scored hat-tricks, including one that led Brazil to a 5-2 victory against Sweden in the 1958 semi-finals. Brazil went on to win the Cup.

Surprisingly, Erwin Helmchen from Germany surpasses Pelé’s achievements by nearly 50 hat-tricks. In official matches, Helmchen recorded an incredible 141 hat-tricks, including scoring eight goals in a match twice, seven goals three times, six goals ten times, and five goals fifteen times.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with 59 career hat-tricks. His first natural treble in professional football came during Manchester United’s 6-0 win against Newcastle United in January 2008.

At the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo scored a treble in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Spain at 33 years and 130 days old, making him the oldest player to achieve a hat-trick in World Cup history. He has scored ten hat-tricks for the Portuguese national team.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi trails slightly behind Ronaldo, with 55 hat-tricks in his 15 years of professional play. Messi’s first career treble came during a 3-3 draw between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid on March 10, 2007.

The Fastest Hat Tricks

As of now, the fastest hat-trick in football history was scored by relatively unknown player Tommy Ross in 1964. Remarkably, Ross was only 18 years old at the time. His record was officially recognized in the Guinness World Records 40 years later, though it remains contentious due to the loose football regulations and unclear timing methods of that era.

The fastest hat-trick was scored by Egyptian forward Abdul-Hamid Bassiouny
The fastest hat-trick was scored by Egyptian forward Abdul-Hamid Bassiouny

At the international level, the fastest treble was scored by Egyptian forward Abdul-Hamid Bassiouny, who netted three goals in just 155 seconds during a World Cup qualifier against Namibia.

In English football, James Hayter holds the record for the fastest treble, achieved in just 140 seconds during Bournemouth’s 6-0 victory over Wrexham in 2004. In the Premier League, Liverpool’s Sadio Mané scored the fastest treble, taking just 176 seconds in 2015.

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What Does a Hat-Trick Mean in Football?

In conclusion, a hat trick in football refers to the impressive feat of a player scoring three goals in a single match. This achievement is highly coveted by players as a testament to their skill and is a thrilling moment for fans to witness.

With this explanation, Okebet hopes you now understand what a hat-trick is and its significance in football history.

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