Players With Most Hat-Tricks in La Liga: From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Alfredo Di Stéfano and Telmo Zarra, these players have made a lasting impact on the Spanish league with their exceptional goal-scoring abilities.
Scoring a hat trick is a remarkable achievement in any league, and it becomes even more impressive in La Liga, which is known for its high level of competition. To score three goals in a single game requires a combination of skill, talent, and a little bit of luck. However, these 10 players have accomplished this feat multiple times, solidifying their place in the history of La Liga.
Players With Most Hat-Tricks in La Liga
In this article, we will go through deeper into the careers of these players and explore their remarkable records of scoring hat-tricks in La Liga.
1. Lionel Messi
- Country: Argentina
- Total Hat-Tricks: 36
Lionel Messi has scored the most hat-tricks in the history of La Liga. He has achieved this impressive feat 36 times. In the 2011-12 season, Messi also set another record by scoring 8 hat-tricks in a single season, which is a joint record shared with another player.
Messi’s hat-tricks were not limited to one or two teams. He managed to score them against a wide variety of opponents, including notable teams like Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol, and Leganés. This shows his ability to perform at a high level against different competitors.
Messi’s record of hat-tricks is truly exceptional, and it’s unlikely that anyone will surpass it in the near future. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football, and his numerous hat-tricks serve as evidence of his incredible skill and talent.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Country: Portugal
- Total Hat-Tricks: 34
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 34 hat-tricks in La Liga, which is the second-highest number in the league’s history. He trails behind Lionel Messi, who holds the top spot with 36 hat-tricks.
Ronaldo achieved his first La Liga hat-trick in 2010 while playing for Real Madrid. During his time with the club, he scored an additional 33 hat-tricks before transferring to Juventus in 2018. His last La Liga hat-trick was recorded in 2018, when he played against Girona while still representing Real Madrid.
Similar to Messi, Ronaldo’s hat-tricks were not limited to a few teams. He managed to score them against various opponents, including notable teams such as Espanyol, Atlético Madrid, Alavés, and Celta Vigo.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick record is highly commendable, and the only reason he falls behind Messi is due to Messi’s longer tenure in La Liga. Ronaldo is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, and his numerous hat-tricks reflect his exceptional skill and talent.
3. Telmo Zarra
- Country: Spain
- Total Hat-Tricks: 23
Telmo Zarra, a legendary Basque footballer, holds the third position for the most hat-tricks in La Liga history, with a total of 23. He played for Athletic Bilbao from 1940 to 1955 and is regarded as one of the greatest Basque players ever.
Zarra’s impressive hat-tricks were scored against a diverse range of teams, including Celta Vigo, Oviedo, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Castellón.
His hat-trick record is remarkable, trailing behind only Messi and Ronaldo. However, it’s important to note that Zarra achieved this feat during a time when the number of games played in a season was fewer compared to the modern era. Nevertheless, Zarra’s legacy in La Liga is cemented, and he is rightfully considered one of the all-time greats in the league.
Additionally, Zarra holds another significant record in La Liga as the third-highest goal scorer in its history, with 251 goals. He accomplished this remarkable feat in 277 appearances, averaging an impressive 0.90 goals per game.
4. Alfredo Di Stéfano
- Country: Argentina
- Total Hat-Tricks: 22
Alfredo Di Stéfano, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, holds the fourth position for the most hat-tricks in La Liga history, with a total of 22. He played for Real Madrid from 1953 to 1964, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
Di Stéfano’s impressive hat-tricks were achieved against a diverse range of teams, including Sporting Gijón, Atlético Madrid, Valencia, and Las Palmas.
His hat-trick record stands as a testament to his exceptional abilities, placing him just behind the hat-trick record holders Messi, Ronaldo, and Zarra. Di Stéfano’s contributions to the sport have solidified his status as one of the all-time greats in football history.
5. Mundo
- Country: Spain
- Total Hat-Tricks: 19
Mundo is among the top five players who have achieved the most hat-tricks in the history of La Liga. He scored an impressive 19 hat-tricks during his time in the league, which helped him secure a place in the top five.
Mundo played for both Real Madrid and Sevilla in La Liga, and he is widely recognized as one of the best strikers of his generation. Throughout his career, he scored a total of 195 goals in La Liga, which ranks him as the eleventh-highest goal scorer of all time in the league.
6. César Rodríguez
- Country: Spain
- Total Hat-Tricks: 15
César Rodríguez Álvarez, also known as César Rodríguez, was a talented Spanish football player who played as a forward for FC Barcelona in the 1940s and 1950s. He is considered one of the best players in the history of the club.
Throughout his career, César Rodríguez scored many goals and accomplished several hat-tricks in La Liga. Specifically, he scored a total of 15 hat-tricks while playing for FC Barcelona in La Liga.
7. Isidro Lángara
- Country: Spain
- Total Hat-Tricks: 13
Isidro Lángara is ranked seventh in terms of the most hat-tricks scored in La Liga, with a total of 13 hat-tricks. He played for Oviedo FC from 1930 to 1936 and later for Real Oviedo from 1946 to 1948. Lángara is widely regarded as one of the greatest Spanish footballers in history.
Lángara achieved his hat-tricks against various teams in La Liga, including Racing Santander, Hércules, and Valencia. He also managed to score hat-tricks in European competitions like the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Copa del Rey.
Lángara’s hat-trick record is very impressive, and it is only behind other players because he played in an era when there were fewer games in a season. Lángara is one of the greatest players of all time, and his hat-tricks are a testament to his skill and ability.
8. Ferenc Puskás
- Country: Hungary
- Total Hat-Tricks: 12
Ferenc Puskás, the renowned Hungarian footballer, was a key player for Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Puskás had an exceptionally successful career and was known for scoring a large number of goals, including several hat-tricks in La Liga. In fact, Puskás holds the record for the eighth most hat-tricks in La Liga history. Throughout his time with Real Madrid, he achieved an impressive total of 12 hat-tricks.
The 10 Players With Most Hat-Tricks in La Liga
| Rank | Player | No. of Hat-Tricks |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | László Kubala | 11 |
| – | Pahiño | 11 |
| – | Manuel Badenes | 11 |
| 10 | Quini | 10 |
| – | Luis Suárez | 10 |
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has scored the most hat-tricks in La Liga history.
Bata
In 1931, Bata, playing for Athletic Bilbao, scored 7 goals in a single match.
László Kubala
In 1952, László Kubala, playing for Barcelona, scored 7 goals in a single match.
Alfredo di Stéfano
Alfredo di Stéfano achieved 22 hat-tricks while playing for Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Between 2010 and 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a total of 34 hat-tricks for Real Madrid.
Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez made history in La Liga by becoming the first player to score four goals in two consecutive games.
