What does a 'hat-trick' mean in soccer?

It means, as it does in most goal-based sports, that the player has scored three goals. The same term is used in hockey. But unlike in hockey, soccer fans are unlikely to throw headgear onto the pitch when a player notches his third tally. read more

Another type of hat trick in soccer is a golden hat trick or perfect hat trick, which requires the player to score one goal by kicking with the right foot, one goal by kicking with the left foot and one goal by striking the ball with his or her head. read more

Some debate surrounds the issue of who scored the first hat trick in a World Cup. The credit initially went to an Argentinian player named Guillermo Stabile for a hat trick he executed during a match against Mexico on July 19 in the 1930 World Cup. read more

A hat trick in ice hockey, as it is known in its current form, culminates with fans throwing hats onto the ice from the stands. The tradition is said to have begun among fans in the National Hockey League around the 1950s. read more