Which Four Italians Have Scored Premier League Hat-Tricks? | OneFootball

The Premier League has long been a melting pot of international talent, with stars from around the globe leaving their mark on England’s top flight. Among these, a select few Italians have managed one of football’s most impressive feats, scoring a hat-trick. Across the league’s history, only four Italian players have achieved this milestone. Here’s a look back at their memorable treble-scoring performances. If you already have an idea of who features in this article, you might do well on this impossible football quiz.

1. Fabrizio Ravanelli – Two Hat-Tricks for Middlesbrough

Fabrizio Ravanelli made an instant impact in English football when he joined Middlesbrough from Juventus in the summer of 1996. Nicknamed “The White Feather,” Ravanelli announced himself to the Premier League in spectacular style, netting a hat-trick on his debut against Liverpool. Despite Boro only managing a 3–3 draw, his performance was electric, with clinical finishing combined with European flair.

He struck again later that season, bagging his second Premier League hat-trick in a thumping 6–1 win over Derby County. Though Middlesbrough would ultimately be relegated that season, Ravanelli’s exploits ensured his place in Premier League folklore as the only Italian to score multiple hat-tricks in the competition.

2. Gianluca Vialli – Chelsea vs Barnsley, 27 August 1997

Another Italian forward to light up the league was Gianluca Vialli, who brought experience and charisma to Chelsea after his move from Juventus. Just weeks into the 1997/98 campaign, Vialli produced a masterclass against newly promoted Barnsley, scoring four goals in a commanding 6-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

His performance was a perfect example of the mixture of power and finesse that defined his career. Vialli’s hat-trick made him the second Italian to achieve the feat in Premier League history, and it came during a season in which he would later combine playing and managerial duties to lift both the League Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup with Chelsea.

3. Gianfranco Zola – Chelsea vs Derby County, 29 November 1997

Just three months after his compatriot Vialli’s four-goal heroics, Gianfranco Zola joined the elite club of Italian hat-trick scorers. The diminutive magician, adored by Chelsea fans for his creativity and sportsmanship, tore apart Derby County with a three-goal display at Stamford Bridge.

Zola’s hat-trick highlighted everything that made him a Premier League icon: precise finishing, clever movement, and moments of sheer brilliance. His performance cemented his reputation as one of the most technically gifted players ever to grace English football.

4. Mario Balotelli – Manchester City vs Aston Villa, 28 December 2010

It would be over 13 years before another Italian struck three times in a Premier League match. Enter Mario Balotelli, one of football’s most enigmatic talents. Playing for Manchester City under Roberto Mancini, Balotelli delivered a calm yet ruthless hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

His treble, including two penalties and a poacher’s finish, was a reminder of his immense ability when focused. It was also a glimpse of the firepower that would help City clinch their first Premier League title just two seasons later.

A Rare Italian Achievement

Across three decades of Premier League history, only four Italians have managed to score hat-tricks, and between them, they represent some of Italy’s finest exports to English football. From Ravanelli’s debut fireworks to Balotelli’s cool composure, each treble told a story of talent, flair, and the unmistakable Italian touch that continues to enrich the Premier League.