Football
Premier League Hat-Trick Heroes: Aguero, Shearer, Haaland and Legends Ranked
Few moments in football spark as much excitement as a hat-trick, a dazzling display of clinical finishing that often turns a match and earns a player the coveted match ball. In the Premier League, where defences are among the world’s toughest, scoring three goals in a single game is a rare and remarkable achievement. Those who accomplish this feat multiple times etch their names into the annals of English football folklore. To rank the Premier League’s hat-trick masters, we used the SB Market Index, combining hat-trick stats with expert and media insight. Let’s see what the numbers reveal.
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Sergio Aguero/Getty Images
The SB Market Index: Ranking Premier League’s Hat-Trick Kings
While the raw count of hat-tricks is impressive, we’ve developed an ‘SB Market Index’ to provide a more holistic ranking, combining statistical achievement with expert and media perception. This index is derived from two key components: an ‘SB Score’ based on the number of hat-tricks, and ‘Industry Insights’ reflecting broader consensus.
Industry Insights
Beyond the sheer number of hat-tricks, how are these goalscoring titans perceived by experts and prominent football media? ‘Industry Insights’ reflect a consensus from surveyed expert opinions and media analysis.
Industry Insights
| Source | Sergio Aguero | Alan Shearer | Robbie Fowler | Erling Haaland | Thierry Henry | Harry Kane | Michael Owen | Wayne Rooney | Luis Suárez | Dimitar Berbatov | Andy Cole | Ruud van Nistelrooy | Robin van Persie | Raheem Sterling | Ian Wright |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiki “Greatest Ever” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FourFourTwo Top 100 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All‑Time Top‑10/20 Lists | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Premier League Records/Hall | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reddit Consensus Lists | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Mentions | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
SB Score (Most Hat-Tricks by Players)
Our ‘SB Score’ directly reflects a player’s proficiency in scoring trebles. It is calculated by normalizing each player’s total Premier League hat-tricks against the maximum recorded in this elite group (Sergio Aguero’s 12).
SB Score
| Player | Total Hat-Tricks | SB Score |
|---|---|---|
| Sergio Aguero | 12 | 1.000 |
| Alan Shearer | 11 | 0.917 |
| Robbie Fowler | 9 | 0.750 |
| Erling Haaland | 8 | 0.667 |
| Thierry Henry | 8 | 0.667 |
| Harry Kane | 8 | 0.667 |
| Michael Owen | 8 | 0.667 |
| Wayne Rooney | 7 | 0.583 |
| Luis Suárez | 6 | 0.500 |
| Dimitar Berbatov | 5 | 0.417 |
| Andy Cole | 5 | 0.417 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | 5 | 0.417 |
| Robin van Persie | 5 | 0.417 |
| Raheem Sterling | 5 | 0.417 |
| Ian Wright | 5 | 0.417 |
SB Market Index
To arrive at our final ‘SB Market Index,’ we combine the ‘SB Score’ (based on hat-trick volume) with ‘Industry Insights,’ weighting expert consensus heavily: ‘Industry Insights’ (80% Weightage) and ‘SB Score’ (20% Weightage).
SB Market Index
| Rank | Player | SB Score (Value) | Industry Insights (Value) | SB Market Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergio Aguero | 1.000 | 5 | 4.2000 |
| 2 | Alan Shearer | 0.917 | 5 | 4.1834 |
| 3 | Robbie Fowler | 0.750 | 5 | 4.1500 |
| T4 | Thierry Henry | 0.667 | 5 | 4.1334 |
| 5 | Wayne Rooney | 0.583 | 5 | 4.1166 |
| 6 | Andy Cole | 0.417 | 5 | 4.0834 |
| T7 | Harry Kane | 0.667 | 4 | 3.3334 |
| T7 | Michael Owen | 0.667 | 4 | 3.3334 |
| 9 | Luis Suárez | 0.500 | 4 | 3.3000 |
| 10 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 0.417 | 4 | 3.2834 |
| T11 | Robin van Persie | 0.417 | 2 | 1.6834 |
| T11 | Raheem Sterling | 0.417 | 2 | 1.6834 |
| T11 | Ian Wright | 0.417 | 2 | 1.6834 |
| 14 | Erling Haaland | 0.667 | 1 | 0.9334 |
| 15 | Dimitar Berbatov | 0.417 | 1 | 0.8834 |
The Significance of a Premier League Hat-Trick
A hat-trick is more than just three goals. It’s a headline-grabbing, match-defining moment. For the player, it means walking away with the match ball and a place in the day’s highlights. For the team, it often secures a win, boosts goal difference, and electrifies fans. Some hat-tricks are “perfect” (one goal with each foot and a header), but all are cherished for their rarity. Since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, only about 4% of players have scored a hat-trick, making those who achieve it multiple times true outliers.
Spotlight on the Hat-Trick Legends
Sergio Aguero (The Record Holder)
Sergio Aguero’s 12 Premier League hat-tricks stand as the competition’s record, a testament to his lethal finishing and pivotal role in Manchester City’s dominance. From his first treble against Wigan in September 2011 to his record-breaking 12th against Aston Villa in January 2020, Aguero’s ability to dismantle defences was unmatched. His five-goal haul against Newcastle in 2015, including four in 13 minutes, remains one of the most jaw-dropping displays in Premier League history. Aguero’s 260 goals for City, including three hat-tricks against Arsenal and Chelsea, cement his legacy as a goalscoring phenomenon.
Alan Shearer (The PL Goal King)
Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals, notched 11 hat-tricks, nine for Blackburn Rovers and two for Newcastle United. His record of five hat-tricks in the 1995-96 season alone, against Coventry, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Bolton, and Tottenham, remains unmatched. Shearer’s mobility, power, and clinical finishing made him a nightmare for defenders, with eight of his hat-tricks coming in a remarkable 476-day span between 1994 and 1996. His goalscoring prowess defined an era and secured his place as a Newcastle legend.
Robbie Fowler (God)
Nicknamed “God” by Liverpool fans, Robbie Fowler’s nine hat-tricks reflect his natural goalscoring instinct and early Premier League impact. His blistering pace and predatory finishing shone in the 1990s, with a standout four-goal haul against Middlesbrough in 1996. Fowler’s trebles, including his last in 2001, showcased his ability to capitalize on chances, making him a Kop icon. His nine hat-tricks place him third all-time, a remarkable feat for a player whose career was often disrupted by injuries.
The Eight-Trick Quartet
Erling Haaland
Since joining Manchester City in 2022, Haaland has stormed to eight hat-tricks in just 69 matches, a rate unmatched in Premier League history. His four trebles in the 2022-23 season, followed by back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham in 2024, highlight his relentless scoring. At 24, Haaland is on pace to challenge Aguero’s record, with his clinical finishing and knack for close-range goals making him a defender’s worst nightmare.
Thierry Henry
Arsenal’s elegant maestro, Henry combined flair and devastating finishing for eight hat-tricks. His final treble in 2006 against Wigan capped a career that saw him become the Premier League’s top foreign goal scorer until Aguero’s rise. Henry’s speed and artistry made him a standout, with his hat-tricks often blending finesse and power.
Harry Kane
Before moving to Bayern Munich, Kane racked up eight hat-tricks for Tottenham, four in the 2016-17 season alone. His back-to-back trebles against Leicester and Hull in 2017 showcased his versatility and clinical edge. Kane’s 213 Premier League goals place him among the elite, and his hat-tricks reflect his consistency as one of England’s finest strikers.
Michael Owen
Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Owen’s eight hat-tricks for Liverpool and Newcastle highlighted his explosive pace and finishing. His 2005 treble against West Ham was his last, but his early-career exploits, including four hat-tricks by age 21, marked him as a generational talent.
The Five-Trick Club
The likes of Wayne Rooney (7 hat-tricks), Luis Suárez (6), and the quintet of Dimitar Berbatov, Andy Cole, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, and Ian Wright (5 each) round out the elite. Rooney’s seven trebles, including a famous 2011 haul against Arsenal, reflect his all-around brilliance. Suárez’s six hat-tricks in just three seasons at Liverpool underscore his predatory instinct. Raheem Sterling, the only non-striker on the list, achieved five trebles, a testament to his versatility. These players, alongside Berbatov, Cole, Van Nistelrooy, and Van Persie, represent the Premier League’s golden eras of goalscoring.
Key Observations
The list is dominated by out-and-out strikers, reflecting the specialized role of clinical finishers in the Premier League. From Shearer and Fowler in the 1990s to Aguero and Haaland in the modern era, these players span distinct periods of the competition’s history. Clubs like Manchester City (43 hat-tricks), Liverpool, and Arsenal feature heavily, underscoring their attacking prowess. Sterling’s inclusion as a winger highlights the rarity of non-strikers achieving multiple hat-tricks. Haaland’s rapid ascent, with eight hat-tricks in fewer games than anyone, signals a new era of goalscoring dominance.
The Contenders: A Snapshot of Hat-Trick Genius
Sergio Aguero (ARG): The record holder with 12 hat-tricks, Aguero’s lethal finishing, including a five-goal haul in 2015, defined Manchester City’s dominance and cemented his status as a Premier League icon.
Alan Shearer (ENG): The all-time top scorer with 11 hat-tricks, Shearer’s five trebles in 1995-96 showcased his power and precision, making him a Newcastle legend.
Robbie Fowler (ENG): “God” to Liverpool fans, Fowler’s nine hat-tricks, including a four-goal haul in 1996, highlighted his predatory instincts and Kop legacy.
Erling Haaland (NOR): A modern phenomenon, Haaland’s eight hat-tricks in just 69 matches signal a new era of goalscoring dominance, with his clinical edge eyeing Aguero’s record.
Thierry Henry (FRA): Arsenal’s flair-filled maestro, Henry’s eight hat-tricks blended artistry and power, cementing his status as a Premier League great.
Harry Kane (ENG): Tottenham’s versatile striker, Kane’s eight hat-tricks, including four in 2016-17, reflect his clinical consistency.
Michael Owen (ENG): A teenage sensation, Owen’s eight hat-tricks showcased his explosive pace and finishing, marking him as a generational talent.
Wayne Rooney (ENG): With seven hat-tricks, Rooney’s all-around brilliance shone in trebles like his 2011 Arsenal haul.
Luis Suárez (URU): Six hat-tricks in three seasons at Liverpool underscore Suárez’s predatory instinct.
Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Andy Cole (ENG), Ruud van Nistelrooy (NED), Robin van Persie (NED), Raheem Sterling (ENG), Ian Wright (ENG): Each with five hat-tricks, these players represent diverse eras of Premier League goalscoring excellence, with Sterling’s winger status a unique highlight.
Conclusion & Disclaimer
Scoring a Premier League hat-trick is a rare and cherished feat, requiring skill, composure, and often a touch of magic. Sergio Aguero’s record of 12 hat-tricks crowns him the ultimate treble king, with Alan Shearer’s 11 and Robbie Fowler’s 9 not far behind, as reflected in our ‘SB Market Index.’ The eight-trick quartet of Haaland, Henry, Kane, and Owen, alongside the five-trick club, have left indelible marks on the Premier League. With Haaland closing in at a record pace, the future promises more thrilling trebles. These players have turned matches into memories, cementing their legacies as the Premier League’s hat-trick heroes.
Disclaimer: This analysis uses verified Premier League hat-trick counts for the SB Score and surveyed ‘Industry Insights.’ Different methodologies or sources could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.
With a decade of sports writing expertise, Nigel Naicker has crafted compelling content across football leagues like the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as cricket and UFC. A passionate storyteller since 2014, Nigel joins the SportsBoom team, ready to deliver insightful narratives across various sports disciplines.