Hat-Trick in Soccer: What Counts, Types, and How They Happen

As a coach-turned-analyst who’s logged 10+ years tracking goals, reviewing film, and arguing with refs, here’s the quick answer you came for: a hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a single match. In my experience, people overcomplicate it. Three goals. Same player. One game. That’s it. When folks say hat trick soccer, they usually mean the whole scene around it—natural hat-tricks, perfect hat-tricks, braces turning into threes, all that drama. And yes, I’m obsessed.

Table of Contents

What actually counts as a hat-trick?

Simple version. Three goals by one player in one match, in regulation or extra time. Penalties count. Own goals don’t. If your teammate taps it over the line for you because the keeper dropped it? Still your goal. Ask any striker. They’ll claim it from 40 yards away.

If you want the historic roots (it started in cricket), this write-up explains the term across sports: hat-trick origin and meaning. I’ve always found that context helps when you debate your uncle at Thanksgiving.

Types of hat-tricks you’ll hear tossed around

Natural hat-trick: three goals in a row without anyone else scoring in between. Clean sweep.
Perfect hat-trick: one with the left foot, one with the right, and one header. The soccer nerd’s favorite flex.
First-half hat-trick: all three before halftime. That’s when the other coach starts making “tactical” subs. Sure.
Penalty-included hat-trick: still counts, even if two came from the spot. People get weird about this. Don’t.

Now, fun twist: your celebration can still sting you. If you rip your shirt off after the third, you risk a booking. Law 12 is clear. If you’ve ever wondered why refs are so strict, read this breakdown of the yellow card in soccer. I’ve seen players blow a hat-trick and then pick up a silly yellow in the 90th for time-wasting. Chef’s kiss.

How players actually score three

I’ve watched hundreds of matches and way too many training sessions. Most hat-tricks aren’t magic. They’re patterns. A hot forward + shaky center backs + early goal = panic. When panic hits, a second comes quick. After that, defenders start stepping late. That’s your third. It’s math plus nerves.

Little tactical things that lead to a hat-trick

Teams that press high and win turnovers near the box. Fast chaos equals easy chances.
Wingers isolating slow fullbacks. Beat him once, beat him twice, keeper is toast.
Good set-piece delivery. If the delivery is elite, your striker will eat.
Confidence. Yes, it’s vague. But after one goal, the second comes easier. Seen it a thousand times.

I keep a nerdy mental log of famous threes. For the big tournament stuff, I like skimming this list when I’m prepping a podcast: World Cup hat-tricks. Nice reminder that even legends need a little luck. And a lot of bad defending.

My first live hat-trick (and why I still grin)

Years ago, I was scouting a lower-division match. Windy night. Pitch looked like a salad. Our striker mis-hit his first goal off his shin. Then he blasted a second from 20 yards. Third was a header off a corner. Natural hat-trick. I wrote “not clinical… yet effective” in my notes. The kid framed that scrap of paper. He still sends me holiday cards. People remember their first three. So do coaches.

I get DMs about whether video games teach you anything about scoring threes. They can. The debate on which game handles runs, weight of pass, and finishing better is eternal. My two cents? Read this and then pick your poison: FIFA vs PES. I’ve always found the animations in one make near-post finishes feel too generous. Not naming names.

Quick “table” you can skim before your next argument

Natural hat-trick — Meaning: three in a row — Vibe: ruthless momentum — Common in: chaotic games
Perfect hat-trick — Meaning: left, right, header — Vibe: technical flex — Common in: balanced teams with good crossers
Penalty + open play — Meaning: mix of spot kicks and live plays — Vibe: opportunist — Common in: refs who actually give pens
Super-sub hat-trick — Meaning: off the bench — Vibe: chaos agent — Common in: tired defenses

Stats that matter (and a few that don’t)

xG: good for spotting if a player is getting good chances, not a crystal ball.
Touches in the box: if this goes up, hat-tricks get real.
Shot map: low and across the keeper is king. Wild top-corner attempts are for YouTube edits.
Key passes and big chances created: friends feed friends. Strikers should buy lunch for their 10.

If you’re into the gaming side of all this, I sometimes park myself in the FIFA/NBA2K corner to see how people simulate movement patterns. Yes, slides tackle spam is a thing. No, it won’t help you score three in real life.

Myths that refuse to die

You need to be the fastest player on the pitch. Nope. Timing beats speed. Ask any crafty number 9.
Left foot equals “weak foot” for righties. Please. Work it. You’ll double your finishing angles.
Only strikers score hat-tricks. Wingers and even midfielders do it. Late box runs are a cheat code.
It’s all talent. Nah. Positioning, repetition, calm. Talent is the garnish.

Real talk: I’ve learned almost as much about decision-making by watching competitive gaming as I have live sessions. If that world interests you, poke around sports in gaming. Different arena, same brain math. Patterns, pressure, payoff.

How to actually train for three (if you’re not a pro)

I train players with short, brutal reps. Nothing fancy. You don’t need ten cones and a drone.

First-time finishes from crosses: 20 reps each side. No dribbles. Touch-shoot. Miss? Sprint back.
Near-post runs: demand the ball early. Tap-ins count as much as rockets.
Weak-foot volleys: ugly at first. Then it clicks. Mileage matters.
Rebound hunting: keeper spills shots. Follow everything. Be annoying.

For the “is esports real sport?” crowd—I dabble in both, and the mindset overlap is spooky. Radar, scanning, decision speed. Dive into esports vs real sports if you want to see where the lines blur and where they don’t.

Rules and tiny edges that add up

Offside timing: start your run a beat later than you want. Let the passer see you.
Corners: attack the space, not the man. Space doesn’t fight back.
Penalties: pick a corner early; don’t change your mind on the run-up. Panic is the real keeper.
Yellow cards: don’t waste them on shirt removal unless the photo will pay your rent.

I track historical streaks for fun. If you’re into league-specific trivia and want to win pub arguments, skim the Premier League hat-tricks list. Spoiler: certain eras were chaos. Defending took a sabbatical.

Video games, then and now

When I need a break, I watch creators break down finishing mechanics, aim assist quirks, and through-ball logic. I dump those notes back into my “what makes a hat-trick possible” file. If you’re browsing around for that rabbit hole, the sports in gaming archive holds more than you think. I crib ideas, shamelessly.

I also keep a tiny folder of favorite reads and sims. Sometimes I pull up this general hub just to see what trends people are chewing on in sports titles: FIFA/NBA2K roundup. Feels like a lab. A messy, entertaining one.

Little “table” of quick coaching cues

Cue: Check shoulder twice — Why: timing the blindside run — Result: one extra shot per game
Cue: Arrive, don’t wait — Why: beat the defender to the spot — Result: tap-ins exist for a reason
Cue: Shoot across the keeper — Why: rebounds — Result: easy second chances
Cue: One calm breath — Why: lower heart rate — Result: better contact

I’m not anti-magic. I love the crazy volley from 30 yards. But most threes are built, not gifted. That’s why I smile when someone messages me, “I scored my first three today.” If they ask, I send them back to basics. And to a film session. And, fine, sometimes I send them to this rabbit hole about where sports and controllers collide: sports-in-gaming pieces. Patterns are patterns, whether it’s grass or pixels.

I’ve said “hat trick soccer” twice now, which is probably enough buzzword soup for one day. If you made it this far, you deserve a snack. I’m off to rewatch a match where a sub bagged three in 19 minutes. Defender had a day to forget. We all have those. Some just end up on highlight reels.

FAQs

Is a penalty hat-trick “less real” than one from open play?

No. Three goals is three goals. Pressure from the spot is brutal. Take them, score them, frame the ball.

Does an assist count toward a hat-trick?

Nope. Assists are lovely, and you should thank your playmaker. But a hat-trick is about goals only.

What’s a perfect hat-trick again?

Left foot, right foot, and a header. Style points for the soccer nerds. Still just three on the board.

Can you score a hat-trick in extra time?

Yes. Same match, same player, three goals—extra time counts. Penalty shootouts don’t.

How do I train for my first hat-trick fast?

Reps: first-time finishes, near-post runs, weak-foot strikes. Keep it simple. Show up, shoot a lot, learn from misses.

Jacob Walker

I’m Jacob Walker, and my blog is where digital and physical sports collide. I cover FIFA & NBA2K, explore unique athlete crossover content, and analyze the latest industry trends.