The FIFA World Cup has always been football's biggest stage for unforgettable individual performances.
Few achievements capture the imagination quite like a hat-trick.
From Geoff Hurst's iconic treble in the 1966 final to Kylian Mbappe becoming only the second player to score three goals in a World Cup final in 2022, World Cup hat-tricks are among football's rarest accomplishments.
Yet FIFA World Cup 2026 has already become one of the most prolific tournaments for individual goalscoring.
With the Round of 32 still underway, the tournament has already produced three hat-tricks - the highest tally at a single World Cup since 1986.
Considering the competition still has several knockout rounds remaining, that number could yet grow.
Every FIFA World Cup 2026 Hat-Trick So Far
Three players have already etched their names into World Cup history.
Lionel Messi (Argentina 3-0 Algeria)
The first hat-trick of the tournament belonged to none other than Lionel Messi.
The Argentine captain scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to inspire a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria during the group stage.
It was another landmark achievement in a World Cup career already filled with unforgettable moments.
Jonathan David (Canada 6-0 Qatar)
Canada forward Jonathan David became the second player to score a hat-trick at the tournament.
His goals in the 29th minute, first-half stoppage time and 90+2nd minute helped Canada record a commanding 6-0 victory over Qatar.
It was also one of the biggest wins of the group stage.
Ousmane Dembele (France 4-1 Norway)
France winger Ousmane Dembele completed the latest hat-trick of the tournament.
Dembele struck in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes as France defeated Norway 4-1 to maintain their perfect record heading into the knockout rounds.
It was one of the fastest hat-tricks ever scored by a French player at the World Cup.
Read More: The World Cup’s Strangest Modern Records: Netherlands’ Penalty Curse And Germany’s Knockout Drought
Most Hat-Tricks Since 1986
Three hat-tricks may not sound extraordinary at first glance.
Historically, however, they are.
FIFA World Cup 2026 has already produced three hat-tricks, making it the first edition since Mexico 1986 to reach that mark.
Every World Cup held between 1990 and 2022 produced either one or two hat-tricks. The 1998 tournament in France and the 2010 edition in South Africa each saw just one, while every other World Cup during that period featured two.
That puts the current tournament in rare company, with only the legendary 1986 World Cup producing more hat-tricks in the modern era.
With several knockout matches still to be played, the 2026 edition now has a genuine opportunity to become the most prolific World Cup for hat-tricks in four decades.
Can World Cup 2026 Challenge The All-Time Hat-Trick Record?
The overall World Cup record remains some distance away.
The all-time record still belongs to the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, which produced an astonishing eight hat-tricks - a mark that remains one of the most extraordinary goalscoring records in tournament history.
Despite the quality of teams remaining in the tournament, surpassing that number still appears unlikely.
However, with several knockout matches still to come and some of the world's finest forwards still in contention, World Cup 2026 has a realistic opportunity to become the most prolific edition for hat-tricks in the modern era.
Why Are We Seeing More Hat-Tricks?
Several factors have contributed to the increase in goalscoring performances.
The expanded 48-team format has created more matches and more opportunities for elite forwards to play against a wider variety of opponents.
At the same time, many of the tournament favourites have adopted an aggressive attacking approach rather than prioritising defensive control.
The result has been one of the most entertaining World Cups in recent memory.
The group stage alone produced 215 goals, the highest total ever recorded before the knockout rounds began.
That attacking momentum has continued into the Round of 32.
Golden Boot Race Tightening Up
The race for the Golden Boot is also becoming increasingly fascinating.
As the knockout rounds continue, the leading scorers are:
| Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 6 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 4 |
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 4 |
| Ousmane Dembele | France | 4 |
| Vinicius Junior | Brazil | 4 |
With every additional knockout match carrying enormous significance, one outstanding performance could completely reshape the race for the tournament's top scorer.
More Goalscoring History Could Still Be Written
World Cup hat-tricks have always occupied a special place in football history.
They are rare, memorable and often define an entire tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026 has already delivered three of them.
Whether Lionel Messi, Jonathan David and Ousmane Dembele remain the only names on that list, or whether another forward joins them over the coming weeks, remains to be seen.
One thing, however, is already certain.
The tournament has become one of the greatest showcases of attacking football seen at a FIFA World Cup in decades.
