Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement bagged the first hat-trick of Qatar 2022 with his three strikes for Portugal in their 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the round of 16. So, we decided to take a look at the last three players to score a World Cup trio before this winter’s tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal 3-3 Spain, Russia 2018)
While he might have watched on from the sidelines in his side’s last-16 drubbing in 2022, Ronaldo was in the thick of the action four years ago in Russia. Portugal took on Spain in the opening match in Group B and got off to a lightning start thanks to their captain’s 4th-minute strike. Diego Costa made it 1-1 before Ronaldo put Portugal back ahead just before the break. A quick-fire Costa and Nacho Fernandez double put Spain 3-2 up in the second half, before La Roja gave away a free-kick within shooting distance in the dying embers.
Up stepped Ronaldo, having already bagged two goals, to lash home a ferocious third past David De Gea and make it 3-3 with barely minutes to spare. Portugal went on to top that group, before crashing out at the last-16 stage against Uruguay. Fernando Santos’ side have a chance for redemption in the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022, and are the favourites in Morocco vs Portugal odds with a generous 6/10 to go on to the semi-finals. Whether Ronaldo will be there is another matter entirely, however, after he stormed off early from their last-16 victory.
4' ⚽️
— LiveScore (@livescore) June 15, 2022
44' ⚽️
88' ⚽️
📅 #OnThisDay in 2018, @Cristiano scored that iconic hat-trick against Spain at the World Cup 🇵🇹🎩 pic.twitter.com/zif6s3Nsp5
Harry Kane (England 6-1 Panama, Russia 2018)
England’s Harry Kane only scored his first goal of this winter’s tournament in the Three Lions’ 3-0 victory over Senegal in the round of 16. However, the Tottenham man got off to a flyer four years ago in Russia, scoring a hat-trick in matchday two against Panama. Defender John Stones scored twice, Kane bagged a brace of penalties and Jesse Lingard even got in on the action as England took a staggering 5-0 lead into the break.
Kane completed his hat-trick on the hour mark before Felipe Baloy grabbed a consolation for Panama as Gareth Southgate’s side qualified from Group G with a game to spare. England’s number 9 would go on to become the tournament’s top scorer with six goals in Russia. While Kane grabbed himself the Golden Boot, the Three Lions had to settle for a last-four finish after Croatia came from behind in extra-time to proceed to the World Cup final at their expense. Southgate’s side will hope to go one further in Qatar, especially after coming so close to glory in Euro 2020.
ON THIS DAY: In 2018, Harry Kane became the second Englishman to win the World Cup Golden boot after Gary Lineker.
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 15, 2021
◎ 6 games
◉ 6 goals
He scored with all six of his shots on target. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9a8fYXJzY5
Xherdan Shaqiri (Honduras 0-3 Switzerland, Brazil 2014)
With only two hat-tricks scored in the entirety of Russia 2018, the third-most recent trio of strikes came back in 2014 from Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored all three of Switzerland’s goals in a dominant display against Honduras. Shaqiri, who was then playing his football for Bayern Munich, opened the scoring after six minutes before doubling his money just after the hour mark. The forward completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes with a fine strike that capped off a dazzling individual display.
Shaqiri was up to his usual tricks this year in Qatar, becoming just the third player alongside Lionel Messi and the aforementioned Ronaldo to score in the last three World Cups. His strike helped the Swiss edge past rivals Serbia on matchday three, which saw them qualify as Group G runners up and set up a last-16 meeting with Portugal. As mentioned, Ronaldo and Co. breezed into the quarter-finals to play Morocco at the expense of Switzerland, who failed to reach what would have been only their second ever World Cup quarter-final.
Shaqiri with a little spice… 🌶@sfv_asf beat Honduras 3-0 in the 2014 @FIFAWorldCup as Shaqiri took the match-ball home with a spectacular performance. ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/DHQnM5sS2h
— Budweiser Football (@budfootball) August 17, 2022
With three rounds of this year’s tournament still to go, it remains to be seen whether someone can step up to the plate and join the World Cup hat-trick hall of fame. Given that Qatar 2022 has laid witness to some impressive performances and a multitude of goals, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a few more additions on this list.
