'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Scoring a goal is without doubt the biggest thing that happens on a football pitch. It is a moment that sends fans wild with excitement, jubilation, cheers and a feeling of fulfillment. Yet, goals do not come by easily.
There are countless number of tackles, passes, runs and crosses that take place before a team eventually puts the ball into the back of the net. That is why goalscorers have become more appreciated in the sport as they often decide the fate of games.
While bagging a goal remains a huge task, there are a few players who have mastered the act. Every time these individuals step on to the pitch, it is just a question of how many they will score. For some of these players, the target isn't just to find the back of the net. Their determination is to do so three times or more during a match.
That has led to a battle between these elite finishers to dominate the list for the most hat-tricks in football history. On that note, we present to you five players who have scored three goals or more during a football match, the highest number of times in history.
#5 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Mario Gomez, Sergio Aguero - 18
The fifth spot on the list is occupied by three of the deadliest strikers to ply their trade in Europe - Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Mario Gomez and Sergio Aguero. The trio all bagged 18 hat-tricks each in their respective careers.
Huntelaar has played for the likes of Real Madrid, PSV, AC Milan and Ajax, among others. He was last seen in the Schalke 04 jersey but has become a free agent this summer with uncertainty over his future as he's already 37 years old.
Mario Gomez, on the other hand, scored his 18 hat-tricks across spells with Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg, Fiorentina, Stuttgart and others. He announced his retirement recently with a record of 319 goals and 72 assists to his name at club level.
Sergio Aguero is the only player still going strong among the trio. The Argentine opened a new chapter in his career when he left Manchester City to join Barcelona this summer. He will get the opportunity to add more hat-tricks to his record and improve his standing when the upcoming campaign kicks off.
#4 Robert Lewandowski - 24
There's no debating who the most lethal finisher in the football world is right now. Robert Lewandowski has won the European Golden Shoe for two straight years now and it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down anytime soon.
The attacker has a record of 24 hat-tricks to his name in a career that has seen him represent the likes of Lech Poznan, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Given his incredible level of performance right now, he will certainly add a few more before calling time on his career.
#3. Luis Suarez - 29
If there's any lesson we learned from Luis Suarez last season, it's definitely that he still has gas left in his tank. Barcelona kicked the striker out of the Camp Nou last summer but he went all out to prove them wrong by leading Atletico Madrid to the Liga title. Suarez bagged 21 goals and three assists in the league during the 2020-21 campaign.
The Uruguayan is deservedly the player with the third highest number of hat-tricks in the history of the game (29). Suarez is behind only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He spent his most prolific years at Barca and Liverpool, winning the Golden Boot once apiece at both clubs.
#2 Lionel Messi - 54
It is quite shocking to learn how many hat-tricks Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has bagged in his career. With 54 to his name and still counting, the Argentine comfortably occupies second position on this list. He is only behind his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
One thing that makes Messi's feat even more interesting is that he's bagged such a staggering number of hat-tricks for only one club in his career and the Argentina national team. He has reportedly signed a new contract with Barca this summer, which means we are likely to see him score more hat-tricks in Blaugrana colors next season.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - 57
Arguably the greatest goalscorer the beautiful game has seen, Juventus talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is in a class of his own when it comes to scoring hat-tricks. The iconic winger takes his place at the top of the list, with a whopping 57 hat-tricks to his name.
Ronaldo reached that figure via spells with the likes of Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. At 36 years of age, the Portuguese international is still scoring goals aplenty in Serie A and he'll surely add a few more next season.
