Ousmane Dembele has netted the first international hat-trick of his career, scoring three goals for France against Norway in their final group-stage match of the 2026 World Cup.
Dembele Shuts Down Critics and Explodes at the 2026 World Cup
Before this tournament, the winger had played 19 matches for Les Bleus in major tournaments (Euros and World Cups) without a single goal contribution. He finally broke the jinx with a goal against Iraq a few days ago.
Now, the former “Ballon d’Or” nominee truly exploded, scoring a stunning hat-trick in just 32 minutes against Norway. Dembele opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a right-footed strike, followed by a similar goal in the 20th minute with his left foot; both goals were brilliantly assisted by Kylian Mbappe. In the 31st minute, Dembele completed his remarkable masterclass by smashing a left-footed shot from inside the penalty box into the net.
Breaking a 32-Year-Old FIFA World Cup Record
Throughout his professional career, Dembele has scored a hat-trick on three other occasions: twice with Rennes, and twice with Paris Saint-Germain—once in the UEFA Champions League against Stuttgart, and another against Brest in Ligue 1 back in February 2025.
With his spectacular performance today, the 28-year-old became the first player to score a first-half hat-trick in a World Cup match in 32 years. Furthermore, Dembele has now climbed to second place in the 2026 World Cup top scorers list with 4 goals, tied with teammate Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, trailing the leader Lionel Messi by just one goal.
