Lamine Yamal achieved another individual milestone during Barcelona's victory over Villarreal in the LaLiga on Saturday, with his first career hat-trick, placing him among the youngest to do so in the history of the game.

The 18-year-old bagged a first-half brace to give Hansi Flick's side a cushion before completing his hat-trick midway through the second-half to re-establish the two-goal lead after it was cut short by the visitors.

The performance helped Barcelona extend their lead at the summit to four points, while the youngster also reached 100 goal involvement in the process, but it was where his hat-trick places him amongst the youngsters to do so that was more eye-catching.

In the wake of his success, we take a dive into the history books to see where Lamine Yamal ranks among the youngest hat-trick scorers in football history.

10 youngest hat-trick scorers in football history 

10. Waldemar de Brito in 1931

The man who would later discover Pele, Waldemar de Brito wrote his name in the history books in May 1931, when he scored a hat-trick for Brazil against Uruguay, just a day after his 18th birthday.

Long before he transitioned into a legendary scout and mentor, this specific display of individual brilliance served as a vivid testament to De Brito’s own world-class capabilities as a marksman.

9. Kylian Mbappé in 2016

Kylian Mbappé announced his arrival as a global phenomenon by shattering a record held by Thierry Henry as AS Monaco's youngest goalscorer at just 17 years and 359 days.

During a Coupe de la Ligue clash against Stade Rennais on December 14, 2016, the pacey teenager helped himself to a quick brace in the opening quarter, before completing his hat-trick just after the half-hour mark in a 7-0 win.

His performance on the night saw him become the first player to score a Coupe de la Ligue hat-trick for Monaco since Sonny Anderson in 1997.

Even at seventeen, Mbappé’s ability to dominate elite defenders showcased the generational talent that has since redefined modern football, and he has so far grown into a world-class star, winning the World Cup with France among countless individual and collective accolades.

8. Pele in 1958

The legendary Pelé etched his name into football history during the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the tournament's history.

At just 17 years and 244 days old, the Brazilian teenager displayed a level of technical mastery that stunned the global audience in wbag was a semi-final match with one of the European heavyweights, France.

Pelé ignited the second half with three clinical goals within a twenty-minute window, propelling Brazil to a 5–2 victory and a spot in the final, and becoming the second youngest hat-trick scorer in football history at the time.

7. Lee Wai Tong in 1923

On May 24, 1923, the legendary Lee Wai Tong cemented his status as a footballing icon during the Far Eastern Games, where he became the youngest hat-trick scorer in football history on the international stage in a competitive game with China.

During a meeting with Japan at Osaka's Yahata Park, the teenage striker orchestrated a masterful 5–1 victory at just 17 years and 212 days.

Lee's display that day was a precursor to a career where he would allegedly net over 1,000 goals playing for South China, Loh Hwa, UMS Batavia, and VBO Batavia, marking him as Asia's first true global superstar.

6. Nicolas Siri in 2021

Uruguayan sensation Nicolas Siri took the South American football world by storm with a historic goal-scoring display for Danubio back in March 2021 during a 5-1 league win against Boston River. 

At just 16 years and 348 days old, Siri became the youngest player to score a perfect hat-trick in a top-flight professional league, netting with his left foot, right foot, and head. 

Siri, now 21, has had stints on loan with Torque and in Belgium with Lommel, but is currently on loan with Salford City in the fourth division of English football.

5. Trevor Francis in 1971

Before he became the face of British football’s first million-pound transfer, Trevor Francis was a schoolboy sensation tearing up the English second tier. 

On February 20, 1971, the teenage forward orchestrated an unforgettable individual display as Birmingham City dismantled Cardiff City in a 4-0 thrashing.

At the remarkably tender age of 16 years and 317 days, Francis bypassed the typical developmental curve by netting all four goals for the Blues, becoming one of the youngest hat-trick scorers in football history.

His hat-trick, completed with clinical efficiency, shattered perceptions of what a young player could achieve in the physically demanding professional leagues of the 1970s.

The performance signalled the arrival of a generational marksman whose predatory instincts would eventually conquer Europe, and is regarded as one of the finest teenagers to ever grace the game to date.

4. József Horváth in 1907

Hungarian sensation József Horváth etched his name into the record books by becoming the youngest player to ever net an international hat-trick during a friendly meeting with Bohemia in April 1907.

At the remarkably tender age of 16 years and 212 days, Horváth’s three-goal haul during established a global benchmark for youth excellence in senior international football to date. 

3. Paulino Alcántara in 1912

In 1912, 15-year-old medical student Paulino Alcántara made his senior debut for Barcelona in front of around 100 fans, and scored a hat-trick in a 9-0 victory over Catala SC, the same month he was scouted by Barcelona president Joan Gamper.

That was an impeccable feat, and at the time made him the youngest hat-trick scorer in football history for more than eight decades.

At just 15 years, four months, and 18 days, he also set the record for the youngest player to feature for the Spanish giants in an official match, a record that remains unbroken to date.

Paulino Alcántara played for Barcelona until 1916 and returned to the Philippines with his parents, played for local club Bohemian for two years before returning to Barcelona and helping them to win titles after they had struggled in his absence.

He went on to have a successful career and retired at 31 to pursue a career as a medical doctor. He also had stints as a coach and became Barcelona's sporting director between 1931 and 1934.

stepped onto a football pitch in Spain and changed the history of FC Barcelona forever. His journey to becoming the youngest hat-trick scorer of his era is a legendary tale of a "hidden gem" being discovered by a visionary.  

2. Alexander Rafn Pálmason in 2025

More recently, Icelandic winger Alexander Rafn Pálmason became the second youngest hat-trick scorer in football history during one of his appearances for his club KR Reykjavik in their 11-0 win over fifth-division KÁ Ásvellir in the third round of the Icelandic Cup.

At just 15 years and 12 days, Pálmason scored twice in quick succession just after the half-hour mark to give KR a 4-0 lead, and completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from time to seal history.

 

The 16-year-old is set to join Danish club FC Nordsjælland in the summer of 2026 after an agreement between the two clubs last summer.

1. Ntinos Pontikas in 1994

Even though he never went on to fulfill was looked like a rare potential, Ntinos Pontikas made history in 1994, when he was only 14, as he became the youngest hat-trick scorer in football history, a record that may never be broken.

His moment came on his debut start for Haravgi Larissa against Ampelokipoi in a Greek fifth division match in September, at just 14 years, and 198 days.

Pontikas scored all three of his team's goals in a narrow 4–3 defeat. His perfect hat-trick included a header, a half-volley, and a goal following a nutmeg, showcasing a level of skill that far exceeded his years.

His professional career was unfortunately cut short by a serious injury just a few years later, and the player, who was also considered one of the fastest players of his generation, was forced to retire at a very young age.