Youngest Players in History to Score a Hat-Trick: A hat-trick is a special achievement in soccer where a player scores three goals in a single game. It’s a highly sought-after achievement in the sport, and not many players have achieved it at a young age.
Youngest Players in History to Score a Hat-Trick
In this article, we will discuss the youngest players in history who have scored a hat-trick, the youngest player to score a hat-trick for their national team, the youngest hat-trick scorer in the FIFA World Cup, and the youngest hat-trick scorer in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
1. Ntinos Pontikas
| Age | 14 years and 198 days |
|---|---|
| Score | Ampelokipoi 4–3 Haravgi |
| Year | 1996 |
| Country | Greece |
| Goals | 3 |
Ntinos Pontikas broke Pelé’s record of being the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a senior football match. Pontikas was 14 years and 198 days old when he scored all three goals for Haravgi in their 4-3 away defeat to Ampelokipoi in the fifth tier of the Greek championship on 28 September 1996. Pelé was 16 years and 197 days old when he scored a hat-trick for Santos against Fabril de Lavras in a friendly match on 9 June 1957.
2. Pelé
| Age | 16 years and 197 days |
|---|---|
| Score | Santos 7–2 Fabril de Lavras |
| Year | 1957 |
| Country | Brazil |
| Goals | 3 |
Pelé scored his first hat-trick of his senior career in a friendly match against Fabril de Lavras on 9 June 1957. He was 16 years and 197 days old at the time, which made him the youngest player to score a hat-trick in a senior football match a that time.
Youngest Player to Score a Hat-Trick for a National Team
Lee Wai Tong
| Age | 17 years and 212 days |
|---|---|
| Score | China 5–1 Japan |
| Year | 1923 |
| Country | Beiyang government |
| Goals | 3 |
In the final game of the 1923 Far Eastern Games on May 24, 1923, in Osaka’s Yahataya Park, a young footballer Lee Wai Tong did something special. He scored a hat-trick in that match. What’s remarkable is that he was just 17 years, 7 months, and 7 days old at that time. This made him the youngest player ever to achieve a hat trick in an international competition. To this day, no one has broken his record. The closest anyone came to breaking it was Pelé, who scored three goals for Brazil against Sweden in the 1958 FIFA World Cup when he was 17 years and 241 days old.
Youngest Hat-Trick Scorer in the FIFA World Cup
Pelé
| Age | 17 years and 244 days |
|---|---|
| Score | Brazil 5–2 France |
| Year | 1958 |
| Country | Brazil |
| Goals | 3 |
In the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Pelé made a huge impact during the semifinal match against France. He scored three goals in the second half of the game, which played a significant role in Brazil’s 5-2 victory. Pelé was just 17 years old during this tournament, and it was his very first World Cup. These goals he scored in that match are still regarded as some of the best in World Cup history.
Youngest hat-trick scorer in the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Inka Grings
| Age | 20 years and 236 days |
|---|---|
| Score | Germany 6–0 Mexico |
| Year | 1999 |
| Country | Germany |
| Goals | 3 |
On June 24, 1999, during the group stage of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Inka Grings scored three goals in a single match, leading Germany to a 6-0 win over Mexico.
