Geoff Hurst stands unique as the only man to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. He was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, in 1941 and turned professional with West Ham United. Between 1959 and 1972 he made over 400 league appearances and scored 180 goals, helping the Hammers win the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winner’s Cup the following year. Both matches were at Wembley and Hurst made it a remarkable hat-trick in 1966, when England lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.
His second goal in that final was one of the most controversial in World Cup history when his shot hit the crossbar and bounced over the line(?). Hurst had made his debut, against West Germany, only five months before the World Cup and it was an injury to Jimmy Greaves that saw him into the side in the finals, where he scored the winner against Argentina in the quarter final. He also appeared in the 1970 World Cup and in 1972 he moved to Stoke City before finishing his career at West Bromwich Albion. Hurst won 49 caps and scored 24 goals for England. He managed Chelsea and Telford United and assisted Ron Greenwood with the national squad. His appearance for Essex against Lancashire means that he is the only first-class cricketer to have won a World Cup winner’s medal at soccer.
About the author: Ben Jardine
Ben Jardine is the managing editor of My Football Facts and has covered football since 2014. He writes across football statistics, history and current affairs, from all-time records and World Cup deep dives to live transfer-window coverage, with a focus on rigorously fact-checked, data-led analysis. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.