Fastest Hat Trick Record at a Glance
Alex Torr’s 70-second Rawson Springs treble in 2013 is widely listed as the fastest hat trick in football history. Magnus Arvidsson’s 89-second Hassleholms IF burst in 1995 is a leading professional record. Tommy Ross’s 90-second Ross County treble is Guinness-listed, so compare amateur, professional, and Guinness-recognised records.
At a glance, Torr’s time comes from a Meadowhall Sunday League match in Sheffield, where Rawson Springs beat Winn Gardens 7-1. It is useful for the broad, all-levels discussion, but it should not be merged with elite league records.
Arvidsson’s 89 seconds stands out because it happened for Hassleholms IF against Landskrona in Sweden’s second tier. Ross’s 90 seconds, scored for Ross County against Nairn County on 28 November 1964, keeps separate weight through Guinness World Records.
The quick rule is simple: check the level before ranking the feat. This article treats lower-division, amateur, professional, major competition, and Guinness-recognised entries as related records, not one flat list with every claim carrying equal authority without source context.
What Is a Football Hat Trick?
A football hat trick means one player scores three goals in the same match. The goals can come in any half, at any scoreline, and from open play or set pieces, as long as the same player is credited.
The goals do not usually need to be consecutive. For example, a striker could score first, a teammate could score next, and the striker could later add two more. That still counts as a football hat trick.
This point matters because many fans confuse a standard hat-trick with three goals in a row. Consecutive goals can make the feat feel more dramatic, but they are not required unless a specific record or list says so.
A perfect hat trick is a special version. The player scores once with the left foot, once with the right foot, and once with a header. It describes variety, not speed, so it is different from a fastest hat trick.
After the third goal, the scorer is traditionally associated with the match ball, though customs vary by competition and club. For beginners, remember the simple rule: three goals, one player, one match.
How Is Hat-Trick Speed Measured?
Hat-trick speed is normally measured from the moment the player scores their first goal to the moment they score their third. It is not measured from kickoff, half-time, or the player’s first touch, which matters when comparing the fastest hat trick claims.
For example, if a striker scores in the 20th, 21st, and 22nd minute, the hat-trick time is the gap between the first and third goals. The minutes before the first goal do not count toward the record.
Match reports may show goal time in whole minutes, while official data can record seconds. That is why the quickest hat-trick in football can look slightly different across lists, especially when older reports, lower-division games, or amateur matches are involved.
Timing note
Reports often round goal times to the nearest second or minute because stadium clocks, referee notes, broadcast graphics, and newspaper archives do not always use the same precision. Treat very old records as recognised timings, not laboratory measurements.
Stoppage time also needs care. A goal listed as 45+2 is still placed within the match timeline, but the hat-trick duration remains the span between that player’s first and third recorded goals.
Fastest Hat Tricks in Football Ranked
This ranking treats the fastest hat trick in football history as a labelled record, not a single universal crown. Alex Torr leads widely listed overall records, Magnus Arvidsson leads a key professional list, and Tommy Ross remains the Guinness-recognised name.
Fastest Hat Trick Rankings
| Rank | Player | Time | Match | Competition Level | Date | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Torr | 70 seconds | Rawson Springs vs Winn Gardens | Meadowhall Sunday League | 2013 | Widely listed overall amateur record; 7-1 Sheffield match |
| 2 | Magnus Arvidsson | 89 seconds | Hassleholms IF vs Landskrona | Swedish second-tier | 1995 | Leading professional record in many lists |
| 3 | Tommy Ross | 90 seconds | Ross County vs Nairn County | Senior football | 28 November 1964 | Guinness World Records recognised holder |
| 4 | Sarah Wiltshire | 106 seconds | Stevenage FC Women vs Hitchin Belles | Women’s football | 2025 | Known women’s fast hat-trick |
| 5 | Eduardo Maglioni | 111 seconds | Independiente vs Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata | Club football | March 1973 | Three goals in 111 seconds |
| 6 | Abdul Hamid Bassiouny | 117 seconds | Egypt vs Namibia | World Cup qualifier | 2001 | Fast international entry on supplied list |
| 7 | Jimmy O’Connor | 2 minutes 13 seconds | Shelbourne vs Bohemians | League football | November 1967 | Historic Irish club hat-trick |
| 8 | Andy Locke | 2 minutes 20 seconds | Nantwich Town vs Droylsden | FA Cup | 1995 | Fastest FA Cup hat-trick |
| 9 | James Hayter | 2 minutes 21.88 seconds | AFC Bournemouth vs Wrexham | English league substitute | 24 February 2004 | Came on as substitute |
| 10 | Sadio Mane | 2 minutes 56 seconds | Southampton vs Aston Villa | Premier League | 16 May 2015 | Fastest Premier League hat-trick |
| 11 | Robert Lewandowski | 3 minutes 22 seconds | Bayern Munich vs Wolfsburg | Bundesliga | 22 September 2015 | Part of five goals in nine minutes |
| 12 | Mohamed Salah | 6 minutes 12 seconds | Liverpool vs Rangers | Champions League | 12 October 2022 | UEFA and Opta Analyst record |
How to Compare Fastest Hat Trick Records
The table ranks the supplied records by time from first goal to third goal. That makes the fastest hat trick in football history Alex Torr’s 70 seconds, while the quickest hat-trick in football at a leading professional level is Magnus Arvidsson’s 89 seconds.
The top five show why labels matter. Torr’s Sunday League feat is widely listed, Arvidsson’s Swedish second-tier burst anchors the professional comparison, Ross has Guinness recognition, Wiltshire gives a women’s benchmark, and Maglioni adds a historic club example.
Ross is the tricky case because Guinness lists him, even though later roundups often place Torr and Arvidsson above him by elapsed seconds. Wiltshire’s 106 seconds also matters because women’s records are less commonly grouped in older lists.
Bassiouny’s entry stands out because it came for Egypt in a World Cup qualifier, not a club match. Hayter’s time is famous because he scored after coming on as a substitute, making the burst feel even sharper.
Lower-level and amateur records still matter because football history is built from every pitch, not only the top flight. The label tells readers how to compare the record with professional leagues, national cups, and elite European competition.
Source labels are important. PlanetFootball and Wikipedia list Torr, Guinness World Records lists Ross, Sky Sports and Premier League records list Mane, and UEFA plus Opta Analyst list Salah. This ranking keeps those recognition paths separate.
Ian St John and Joel Pohjanpalo are not placed in this table because no verified time, match, date, and level are provided here for comparison. A fair ranking should leave gaps rather than guess.
Fastest Hat Tricks by Major Competition
Fans often search by competition because each tournament has its own pace, record book, and level of scrutiny. The phrase fastest hat-trick in premier league usually points to Sadio Mane, not the wider amateur or professional record.
The same happens with the fastest champions league hat trick, where UEFA match data matters more than Sunday League lists. Competition labels help fans compare like with like, especially when records include substitutes, cups, leagues, and international qualifiers.
Fastest Hat Trick Records by Competition
| Competition | Player | Time | Match | Date | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Sadio Mane | 2 minutes 56 seconds | Southampton against Aston Villa | 16 May 2015 | Fastest Premier League hat trick, documented by Sky Sports and Premier League records. |
| Bundesliga | Robert Lewandowski | 3 minutes 22 seconds | Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg | 22 September 2015 | Part of five goals in nine minutes, cited by Guinness World Records and The Guardian. |
| Champions League | Mohamed Salah | 6 minutes 12 seconds | Liverpool against Rangers | 12 October 2022 | Fastest Champions League treble, cited by UEFA and Opta Analyst. |
| English Football League context | James Hayter | 2 minutes 21.88 seconds | AFC Bournemouth against Wrexham | 24 February 2004 | Scored after coming on as a substitute, a standout league benchmark. |
| FA Cup | Andy Locke | 2 minutes 20 seconds | Nantwich Town against Droylsden | 1995 | Major English cup reference point for fast hat tricks outside the top flight. |
| International qualifying | Abdul Hamid Bassiouny | 117 seconds | Egypt against Namibia | 2001 World Cup qualifier | Leading World Cup qualifier example, useful when separating national teams from club records. |
How Competition Records Should Be Compared
These competition records are not always the same as the fastest hat trick in football history. Alex Torr and Magnus Arvidsson sit higher on broader lists, while these entries answer record questions inside specific tournaments or match categories.
Timing also needs care. The listed duration normally runs from the player’s first goal to the player’s third goal, not from kick-off. Stoppage time, substitutions, and late scoring bursts can make records look even more dramatic.
Use the table as a competition guide, not a single world ranking. Sky Sports, Premier League records, Guinness World Records, The Guardian, UEFA, and Opta Analyst are cited for the major records where specified.
When two records seem close, check the competition level first. A Sunday League record, professional second-tier record, cup record, and elite continental record can all be true at the same time.
Who Holds the Guinness Hat-Trick Record?
Guinness World Records lists Tommy Ross as the holder of its football hat-trick record. Ross scored three goals in 90 seconds for Ross County against Nairn County on 28 November 1964, a mark still important in historical record books.
That does not mean every football list names Ross as the fastest hat trick scorer overall. Many modern rankings also include Alex Torr, who scored three in 70 seconds for Rawson Springs in Sheffield in 2013, and Magnus Arvidsson, who scored three in 89 seconds for Hassleholms IF in 1995.
⚠️ Record caveat
Guinness recognition is a specific recognised record, not a complete ranking of every reported football hat-trick. Broader lists may include amateur, lower-division, professional, or later-recorded performances, so they can place Torr or Arvidsson ahead of Ross while still noting the Guinness entry.
The safest wording is to separate the records by recognition type. Ross is the Guinness-recognised name. Torr is the widely listed 70-second amateur record. Arvidsson is a leading 89-second professional record. That split prevents one source from being treated as the whole game’s archive.
When you see the Ross record, read the label carefully. It answers the Guinness question, while Torr and Arvidsson answer broader ranking questions about reported amateur and professional speed across football history.
Common Fast Hat Trick Misconceptions
These myths cause most record disputes. Use the category label, source, and timing method before comparing any fast list, especially when amateur, professional, and Guinness records appear together.
- Myth: Hat-trick goals must be consecutive. Fact: They do not. A player can score a football hat trick even if team-mates or opponents score between those goals. Fast lists usually track only that player’s first, second, and third goals.
- Myth: A perfect hat trick is automatically a fast one. Fact: Perfect describes how goals are scored: left foot, right foot, and header. Speed describes the time from the player’s first goal to the third.
- Myth: Guinness recognition always means fastest ever. Fact: Guinness lists Tommy Ross’s 90-second record, but later ranked lists include Alex Torr at 70 seconds and Magnus Arvidsson at 89 seconds, with different record categories and evidence standards.
- Myth: Amateur and professional records should sit together without labels. Fact: That creates confusion. Alex Torr’s Meadowhall Sunday League record belongs in an amateur context, while Magnus Arvidsson’s Swedish second-tier hat trick is often treated as a leading professional mark.
- Myth: Every report times the same way. Fact: Most fast hat-trick tables measure from the player’s first goal to the third, not from kick-off or the previous goal. Historical reports can also differ on stoppage time and match records.
Interesting Fast Hat Trick Facts
A rapid football hat trick is not only about raw seconds. These records also create odd details: substitute bursts, broken league marks, stadium memories, and rare women’s football entries that help fans compare different eras and competition levels.
- James Hayter’s Bournemouth hat trick stands out because he came on as a substitute and scored three against Wrexham in just 2 minutes 21.88 seconds. That makes it a classic example of a late cameo changing a match almost instantly.
- Sadio Mane’s 2 minute 56 second Premier League hat trick for Southampton against Aston Villa broke Robbie Fowler’s long-standing league record. It remains the quickest Premier League treble in the verified records supplied for this article.
- Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga burst is famous because the hat trick was only part of a bigger scoring run. For Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg, he scored five goals in nine minutes, with the hat trick timed at 3 minutes 22 seconds.
- Mohamed Salah’s Champions League record came in 6 minutes 12 seconds for Liverpool against Rangers. The time matters because top-level European football usually leaves very little space for three rapid finishes.
- Jimmy O’Connor’s 2 minute 13 second Shelbourne hat trick against Bohemians still carries local memory. A plaque at Tolka Park helps mark the achievement, showing how a short spell of scoring can outlive the match itself.
- Sarah Wiltshire’s 106-second hat trick for Stevenage FC Women against Hitchin Belles is a key modern women’s football reference point. It is useful because many historic fast-hat-trick lists have focused mainly on men’s records.
Related Football Hat Trick Terms
- Brace: two goals by one player in a match, useful context before any hat trick discussion.
- Hat trick: three goals by one player in one match, the core term behind this ranking.
- Perfect hat trick: one goal with the left foot, one with the right, and one header.
- Super hat trick: four goals by one player, often used in most goals features and biggest wins recaps.
- Double hat trick: six goals by one player, a rare scoring burst in any level.
- Match ball: the ball traditionally awarded to a player after scoring a hat trick.
- Goal involvement: a goal or assist, helpful when comparing fastest players beyond scoring alone.
- Stoppage time: added minutes after normal time, which still count for goal time records.
- Substitute: a player brought on during a match, important in James Hayter-style stories and Premier League records.
Fastest Hat Trick in Football FAQ
Who has the fastest hat trick in football history?
Alex Torr is the fastest widely listed name: 70 seconds for Rawson Springs against Winn Gardens in 2013. Magnus Arvidsson has a leading professional record at 89 seconds, while Guinness recognises Tommy Ross at 90 seconds.
What is the fastest hat-trick in premier league records?
Sadio Mane holds it for Southampton against Aston Villa on 16 May 2015. Sky Sports and Premier League records list his time at 2 minutes 56 seconds.
What is the fastest champions league hat trick?
Mohamed Salah holds the Champions League record for Liverpool against Rangers on 12 October 2022. UEFA and Opta Analyst list the time as 6 minutes 12 seconds.
How quick was Lewandowski’s hat trick?
Lewandowski’s hat trick took 3 minutes 22 seconds for Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg on 22 September 2015. Guinness World Records lists it as part of his five goals in nine minutes.
Do hat-trick goals have to be consecutive?
No. A player still gets a hat trick if others score between their goals. Speed records usually time that player’s first goal to third goal, not every scoring moment in the match.
What is a perfect hat trick?
A perfect hat trick is one goal with the right foot, one with the left foot, and one header. It describes variety, not speed, so fast hat tricks are not automatically perfect.
Fastest Hat Trick Conclusion
The clearest answer is that the fastest hat trick in football history depends on category. Alex Torr’s 70-second burst leads widely listed records, Magnus Arvidsson’s 89-second treble stands out professionally, and Tommy Ross remains the Guinness-recognised benchmark.
That is why context matters. Amateur, professional, league-specific, and Guinness-recognised records can point to different names. Check the competition level, goal time, and whether timing runs from the first goal to the third.
For a fuller picture, compare this ranking with football goal records, Premier League records, and famous hat tricks. Those related guides separate match-ball folklore from verified scoring records and show how rare these spells are.