Top Five Players With Most Hat-Tricks in International Football

International football is one of the major events in the sport’s calendar. When asked about their career dreams, every player will undoubtedly mention representing their country.

The stage offers a chance to watch some of the biggest players compete together and against each other. As a result, performances in international football are also viewed closely with great interest and scrutiny. Many players have made a name for themselves in the game by their exploits, both for their countries and at the club level.

While it is a source of pride to score even one goal for your country, some players have made it their habit to score goals constantly for their countries. Though a few selective players have made it a habit of scoring goals and hat-tricks on the international stage. It is what has separated them as the best from the rest.

Let’s look at the five players with the most hat-tricks in international football

5. Pele - 7

Pele, one of the all-time greats, rose to fame thanks to his heroics for Santos and Brazil. At the age of just 18, he guided his nation to their first-ever World Cup victory in 1958. In the process, he also scored in the final to become the first teenager to score in a World Cup main event.

Pele has had an unmatched impact on Brazilian football and sports culture. His on-field exploits for the Selecao were the catalyst for it all. In just 92 games, "O Rei" scored 77 goals for Brazil, the most of any player for the record world champions. He also scored seven hat-tricks internationally.

While many struggle to win even one World Cup during their career, Pele achieved an unprecedented feat of winning three with Brazil. He is the first and sole player to accomplish this milestone. Pele's achievements in the game earned him the "FIFA Player of the Century" award in 2000.

4. Ali Daei - 8

Ali Daei is a certified legend of Asian football. Although he played for teams like Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich, his legendary status was cemented while he was a member of the Iranian national team. 

Daei scored an incredible 109 goals in 149 games for Iran. His time with the national team was adorned with eight international hat-tricks. Ali Daei’s 109 goals stood as the record for most goals in international football for 17 years before Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him on September 1, 2021. He is still by far the highest-scoring Asian of all time.

3. Sven Rydell - 9

Sven Rydell, was the first big player out of Sweden and is considered one of the greatest Swedish strikers of all time. He spent his entire playing career in his homeland and scored 49 goals in just 43 games for the Swedish national team. For eight decades (80 years), his total was the highest in Sweden until Zlatan Ibrahimovic eclipsed it in 2014.

What’s more remarkable is that Rydell scored nine hat-tricks in his tally of 49 goals. That solidifies his position as number three on this list.

2. Lionel Messi - 10

Lionel Messi and hat-tricks go a long way. The legendary player has won almost everything there is to win and more. Over his career, Messi has tallied 58 hat-tricks, ten of which have come for Argentina.

The 34-year-old has scored trebles for ‘La Albiceleste’ against Switzerland, Brazil, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Estonia, and recently against Bolivia. Messi is the highest-scoring South American player in history. His recent international hat-trick helped him surpass 110 goals in international football for Argentina.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - 10

Without Cristiano Ronaldo, a conversation about records and goals is not completed. He is the only player who can match Lionel Messi's extraordinary achievements.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers speak for themselves. He is the highest goal scorer in international football (115) and the game’s history (794). Over his career, Cristiano has scored an incredible 58 hat-tricks, including 10 for Portugal on the international scene.

He tops this list of players with the most hat-tricks in international football thanks to his ten hat-tricks for Portugal. Cristiano broke the previous record held by Sven Rydell ( mentioned above) on October 12 against Luxembourg with his 10th hat-trick. In the process, he became the first football player to score ten international hat-tricks.

Cover Credits - FIFA Official