World Cup final hat tricks: Kylian Mbappe matches World Cup three-goal record in 2022 decider vs Argentina

Scoring in a World Cup final is a memorable moment in a footballing career and some of the greatest players in history have made their mark on the biggest stage.

From Pele to Gerd Muller, to modern icons including Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario, the World Cup final has seen stars step up to the occasion.

One goal in a World Cup final can the make a player a national hero, with two or more goals certain to secure iconic status.

However, only two players have managed to score twice in a World Cup final, with Kylian Mbappe netting a spectacular hat trick in the 2022 final.

MORE: World Cup 2022 top goal scorer tracker: Updated Golden Boot rankings

World Cup final hat tricks

Up until 2022, it was a famous trivia question instantly answered by England fans: Who is the only player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final?

Geoff Hurst's three goals secured the most famous result in English football history as Sir Alf Ramsey's side beat West Germany 4-2, in the 1966 final at Wembley Stadium.

Hurst's early header cancelled out Helmut Haller's opener in London, but it was his iconic extra time brace which sealed the win, and coined the iconic 'They think it's all over' reaction from match commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme.

Scottish commentary of the 1966 World Cup Final pic.twitter.com/QcaPiX63cY

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) December 13, 2022

However, a simply incredible performance from Mbappe in the 2022 final kept France alive against Argentina, to match Hurst's feat, including two penalties.

Players to score two goals in a World Cup final

All time World Cup hat tricks

There have been 52 total hat tricks in World Cup history, with 49 players accounting for those feats. Just Fontaine (1958), Gerd Muller (1970) and Gabriel Batistuta (1994 and 1998) have multiple World Cup hat tricks. 

The edition that has seen more hat tricks than any other to this point was the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, when eight were struck. That included two in the same match, Austria 7-5 Switzerland, from opposing players Theodor Wagner and Josef Hugi.

Through World Cup history, only one edition of the tournament has failed to see a hat trick netted, the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany. 

The first-ever hat trick at a World Cup was scored by an American, Bert Patenaude, at the Uruguay 1930 tournament. 

List of all hat tricks scored at the World Cup