Substitutes Who Achieved a Hat-Trick After Coming Off the Bench
In modern football, teamwork is crucial, and managers frequently seek motivation from their substitutes when the tide is against them.
Sometimes a tactical shift is necessary, but more often it involves bringing in a player who adds a new dynamic: perhaps one with speed, skill, or the capacity to take advantage of fatigued defenses.
Having a goal-scoring substitute on the bench is a significant advantage. Occasionally, it’s a vital player being rested or making a comeback from injury. Other times, it may be a designated supersub.
This article highlights several players who not only made an impact after coming off the bench but also managed to score a hat-trick…
18. Vicente Iborra (Sevilla)
Playing primarily as a defensive midfielder, Vicente Iborra frequently ventured into attacking positions during his four seasons at Sevilla, contributing significantly to the team’s goal tally.
In a La Liga match against Celta Vigo in December 2016, Iborra was substituted for defender Nico Pareja and made history at Balaídos. He netted a remarkable three goals, including a late penalty, securing a 3-0 triumph and becoming the first player in La Liga history to score a hat-trick away from home after starting on the bench.
17. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea)
With Chelsea trailing 2-1 to Wolves in the Premier League in March 2004, manager Claudio Ranieri introduced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink after the hour mark.
Frank Lampard equalized ten minutes later, but it was the Dutch striker who stole the spotlight on his 32nd birthday, completing a superb hat-trick in the final 13 minutes as Chelsea surged to a 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
16. Kevin-Prince Boateng (AC Milan)
AC Milan found themselves in a difficult position against Lecce when Kevin-Prince Boateng was substituted in for Robinho at halftime in their Serie A matchup in October 2011.
With the Rossoneri trailing 3-0 and chances of a comeback looking bleak, Boateng pulled off a remarkable 14-minute hat-trick to level the match at 3-3, paving the way for Mario Yepes to score the late winner.
15. Uwe Rösler (Kaiserslautern)
Former Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler became the first player to net a hat-trick in the Champions League after starting on the bench.
Rösler came on for defender Harry Koch after 37 minutes and scored three goals as Kaiserslautern rallied to dominate Finnish side HJK Helsinki 5-2 in December 1998.
14. Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)
Emmanuel Adebayor came on for Robin van Persie at halftime during Arsenal’s Premier League encounter with Derby County in April 2008, and he quickly stole the spotlight.
After just 14 minutes on the field, Adebayor netted his first goal, adding two more in a decisive 6-2 victory for the Gunners at Pride Park.
13. Joseba Llorente (Villarreal)
Villarreal produced a stunning 6-3 victory against Danish side AaB in the Champions League in October 2023, largely thanks to one man.
With the match tied 2-2 at halftime, Joseba Llorente was substituted in for Guillermo Franco and scored a second-half hat-trick with goals in the 67th, 70th, and 84th minutes, leading the home side to victory alongside goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Joan Capdevila, and Robert Pirès.
12. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Marcus Rashford was brought on in the 63rd minute against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in October 2023, and the England international quickly made an impact, earning a hat-trick during a 5-0 rout at Old Trafford.
Rashford came on for Mason Greenwood, who had opened the scoring in the first half, and completed his hat-trick in added time, scoring in the 74th and 78th minutes. Unfortunately, fans were absent due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Anthony Martial added United’s other goal.
11. Romelu Lukaku (West Brom)
In an unforgettable match at The Hawthorns in May 2013, Manchester United and West Brom played to a thrilling 5-5 draw.
This game marked Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match as Manchester United’s manager and was the first 5-5 draw in Premier League history. Down 3-1 at halftime, Romelu Lukaku was substituted in for Liam Ridgewell and scored three incredible goals in a sensational second-half performance.
10. Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
After a challenging start to the season that left him without a goal in eight matches, Son Heung-min made a notable return for Tottenham against Leicester City in September 2022.
Coming on for Richarlison just before the hour mark, Son scored remarkable goals in the 73rd and 84th minutes, adding a third shortly after as Spurs claimed a dominant 6-1 victory.
9. Walter Pandiani (Deportivo La Coruña)
Trailing 2-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in March 2001, Deportivo La Coruña’s coach Javier Irureta took a chance by substituting striker Walter Pandiani in for midfielder Emerson.
Despite PSG scoring a third goal shortly after halftime, Pandiani responded with a breathtaking hat-trick, and Diego Tristán added another as Deportivo completed an astonishing comeback to win 4-3 at Riazor.
8. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami & Argentina)
Lionel Messi made a stunning impact off the bench for Inter Miami, scoring three goals in 11 minutes against New England Revolution in October 2024, leading his team to a 6-2 victory after replacing Julian Gressel just past the hour.
This was not Messi’s first hat-trick from the bench; he previously achieved this for Argentina against Panama at the Copa América Centenario in 2016, where he became the fastest player to net three goals in the competition’s history within just 19 minutes.
7. Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
In September 2023, when Inter struggled to break the deadlock against Salernitana, coach Simone Inzaghi introduced Lautaro Martínez in place of Alexis Sánchez after the 55th minute.
The Argentine striker made an immediate impact, scoring within seven minutes before netting three more goals – including one from the penalty spot – to lead his side to a convincing 4-0 victory.
6. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
When Paris Saint-Germain led Club Brugge by just one goal in the Champions League in October 2019, Kylian Mbappé was summoned early in the second half.
The 20-year-old quickly made his presence felt, scoring within nine minutes and completing a hat-trick while providing an assist for Mauro Icardi. “I wanted to start,” he stated afterward. His eagerness was clear.
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Starting on the bench for Liverpool’s match against Rangers in the Champions League in October 2022, Mohamed Salah came on in the second half when the Reds were already leading 3-1.
He netted three goals in just over six minutes, claiming the match ball as Jürgen Klopp’s team emerged with a resounding 7-1 victory at Ibrox.
4. Ole Gunnar Solskjær (Manchester United)
In a Premier League match against Nottingham Forest in February 1999, Manchester United led 4-1 when manager Alex Ferguson decided to bring on Ole Gunnar Solskjær for Dwight Yorke with 18 minutes to go.
With a comfortable lead, United’s first-team coach Jimmy Ryan advised Solskjær to “just keep the ball” for the remaining minutes. Yet, the Norwegian had different plans, scoring four goals in just 12 minutes during a sensational 8-1 victory. The quintessential supersub.
3. Erling Haaland
In January 2020, Erling Haaland made a sensational debut for Borussia Dortmund, coming off the bench to score a hat-trick in the Bundesliga.
With Dortmund down 3-1 at Augsburg nearly on the hour mark, Haaland was brought on and within 20 minutes, he netted a debut hat-trick in an incredible 5-3 victory for Lucien Favre’s team.
2. Dieter Müller (West Germany)
Dieter Müller not only came off the bench to score a hat-trick but did so on his international debut for West Germany, and remarkably in a major championship semi-final.
Substituted for Herbert Wimmer with 11 minutes remaining as the defending champions trailed 2-1 against Yugoslavia in Belgrade, Müller equalized within three minutes and added two more during extra time to secure a 4-2 win. He also scored in the final, though West Germany lost to Czechoslovakia on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
1. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski was brought on at halftime for Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg in September 2015, with the Bavarians trailing 1-0 at the Allianz Arena.
However, the Polish forward made an astounding impact, scoring a hat-trick in just over three minutes and netting five goals within nine minutes, turning the game around and leading Bayern to an incredible 5-1 victory. Coach Pep Guardiola could only watch in disbelief from the sidelines, and Lewandowski earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records. Quite remarkable.
