Joseph Paintsil sets record with LA Galaxy in MLS | OneFootball

The Ghanaian winger becomes the third player in club history to score a first-half hat trick

Joseph Paintsil - LA Galaxy

Joseph Paintsil netted a stunning first-half hat trick Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park, powering LA Galaxy to a commanding 4-1 victory over Kansas City. This historic performance cements his place in the California club’s record books.

Joseph Paintsil put LA Galaxy on the front foot as early as the fourth minute, finding the back of the net against Sporting Kansas City. The Ghanaian winger doubled the lead in the 25th minute, then completed his hat trick just before halftime in the 43rd. This rapid-fire hat trick gave his team a comfortable lead at the break.

Thanks to this performance, Paintsil becomes just the third player in club history to notch a first-half hat trick, joining Robbie Keane in 2013 and Alejandro Moreno in 2004. Since the start of the 2025 season, the Ghanaian has featured in 23 MLS matches, tallying 9 goals and 5 assists.