Ousmane Dembele Makes World Cup History with Hat Trick Against Norway
Dembele's Historic Performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ousmane Dembele etched his name in the record books by scoring a hat trick during the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between France and Norway, held at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 26. The Ballon d'Or recipient netted three goals within the first 32 minutes, showcasing his exceptional form after playing a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain's consecutive UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Dembele opened his World Cup account in France's second match against Iraq and carried that momentum forward with three remarkable goals at the 7th, 20th, and 32nd minutes. Kylian Mbappé assisted on the first two goals, while Aurélien Tchouaméni provided the setup for the third.
Dembele's Hat Trick: A Record-Breaking Feat
The hat trick scored by Dembele is the second-fastest in World Cup history, taking just 32 minutes, and the quickest in the last 70 years. The only faster hat trick was by Erich Probst of Austria, who scored three times in 24 minutes against Czechoslovakia in 1954. This achievement marks only the sixth first-half hat trick in World Cup history and the first since 1994.
Fastest Hat Tricks in FIFA World Cup History
| Player | Minute | Team | Opponent | Year |
| Erich Probst | 24 | Austria | Czechoslovakia | 1954 |
| Ousmane Dembele | 32 | France | Norway | 2026 |
| Gary Linekar | 35 | England | Poland | 1986 |
| Gerd Muller | 38 | West Germany | Bulgaria | 1970 |
| Hans Wetterstrom | 44 | Sweden | Cuba | 1938 |
| Oleg Salenko | 45 | Russia | Cameroon | 1994 |
Dembele becomes only the third French player to achieve a hat trick in World Cup history, joining the ranks of Just Fontaine (who did it twice in 1958) and Kylian Mbappé (in the 2022 final against Argentina). Additionally, he is the fourth reigning Ballon d'Or winner to score a hat trick in the World Cup, following in the footsteps of Eusebio, Rummenigge, and Cristiano Ronaldo.