Scoring a hat-trick during the FIFA World Cup is considered one of the top achievements in football. Greats such as Sándor Kocsis, Just Fontaine, Gerd Müller and Gabriel Batistuta have all recorded multiple hat-tricks in World Cup history with Batistuta uniquely accomplishing this in two different tournaments.
Photo credit: Just Fontaine, 1958 FIFA World Cup – Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Players with Multiple Hat-Tricks in FIFA World Cup History
Here are the players who scored multiple hat-tricks in FIFA World Cup history, leaving their mark across several unforgettable World Cup editions.
| S. No. | Player | Country | World Cup(s) | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sándor Kocsis | Hungary | 1954 | 2 |
| 2 | Just Fontaine | France | 1958 | 2 |
| 3 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 1970 | 2 |
| 4 | Gabriel Batistuta | Argentina | 1994 & 1998 | 2 |
Sándor Kocsis (2 Hat-tricks)
World Cup Edition: Switzerland 1954
Hat-trick Matches: Hungary v South Korea, Hungary v West Germany
Sándor Kocsis was Hungary’s deadly forward during the 1950s. In the 1954 World Cup, he made history by being the first player to score two hat tricks in a single tournament and ended up with 11 goals across just 5 games. This achievement solidified his status as one of the finest finishers in football history.
Just Fontaine (2 Hat-tricks)
World Cup Edition: Sweden 1958
Hat-trick Matches: France v Paraguay, France v West Germany
Just Fontaine’s 1958 World Cup feat remains unmatched. He found the net in every match, netting a hat trick against Paraguay and scoring four times against West Germany. His total of 13 goals in just six games established a World Cup record that has yet to be broken.
Gerd Müller (2 Hat-tricks)
World Cup Edition: Mexico 1970
Hat-trick Matches: West Germany v Bulgaria, West Germany v Peru
Gerd Müller dominated the 1970 World Cup with consecutive hat tricks against Bulgaria and Peru. He ended up with 10 goals over six games and earned the Golden Boot. Müller is one of four players with two World Cup hat tricks and cemented his place among the greatest strikers.
Gabriel Batistuta (2 Hat-tricks)
World Cup Edition: USA 1994, France 1998
Hat-trick Matches: Argentina v Greece, Argentina v Jamaica
Gabriel Batistuta secured his place in World Cup history by scoring hat tricks against Greece in 1994 and Jamaica in 1998. This rare achievement made him the only player to score hat tricks in two different tournaments, totaling 10 goals in World Cup matches.
