Honoring the 12 European players who scored a hat-trick in group stages of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Only 12 players scored a hat-trick in the qualifiers, including Cristiano Ronaldo
Only 12 players scored a hat-trick in the qualifiers, including Cristiano Ronaldo

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) vs Luxembourg

Ronaldo has most international hat-tricks in football history (10)
Ronaldo has most international hat-tricks in football history (10)

Considering that he has the most hat-tricks in football history, it isn't surprising to see Cristiano Ronaldo on the list. The Manchester United forward netted thrice in his side's 5-0 demolition of Luxembourg in October.

It was his 10th hat-trick for Portugal, which is also the highest by a player on the international stage. However, his exploits were ultimately fruitless, with A Seleção losing to Serbia on the final day.


#3 Memphis Depay (The Netherlands) vs Turkey

Depay scored 12 goals and made six assists!
Depay scored 12 goals and made six assists!

The undisputed star of these qualifiers in the UEFA zone, Memphis Depay finished as the joint top-scorer with 12 goals, level with England's Harry Kane after bagging another goal on the final day.

His prolific tally includes four braces, and a hat-trick in the 6-0 rout of Turkey in October. This was the first time the Barcelona striker scored three in international colors, as he capped the year with 17 goals for the Netherlands.


#2 Kylian Mbappe (France) vs Kazakhstan (4)

Mbappe bagged his first hat-trick for France against Kazakhstan
Mbappe bagged his first hat-trick for France against Kazakhstan

Only two players scored four goals in World Cup qualifiers in the UEFA zone. The first was Kylian Mbappe, who took Kazakhstan to the cleaners in France's 8-0 rout.

Mbappe scored three times in the first half as the PSG ace broke numerous records on the day, and even became the first French player to score four times in a game in 64 years!


#1 Harry Kane (England) vs Albania, San Marino (4)

The first England player to score four goals since 1993!
The first England player to score four goals since 1993!

Harry Kane's poor form in the Premier League has much-publicised, but he looked perfectly okay in England colors, netting back-to-back hat-tricks in their last two qualifying games.

He scored a perfect hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Albania and followed that up with a four-goal salvo against San Marino, equaling a 96-year-old record of scoring consecutive trebles in competitive games.

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Edited by Shourjo Chatterjee
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