The only player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, sealing England's 1966 triumph at Wembley.
Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst was born on 8 December 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, to Charlie Hurst, a professional footballer who had played for Bristol Rovers, Oldham Athletic, and Rochdale, and his wife Evelyn. The family moved to Chelmsford, Essex, when Geoff was six, and he divided his early sporting interests between football and cricket — even playing one first-class cricket match for Essex against Lancashire in 1962 as a wicket-keeper — before committing fully to football at West Ham United, where he had signed as an apprentice at 15. Originally deployed as a midfielder, Hurst was converted to centre-forward by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood and quickly justified the move, helping the club win the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. His outstanding 1965-66 season, in which he scored 40 goals in all competitions to finish as the First Division's top scorer, initially still wasn't enough to secure him a starting place for England's World Cup campaign that summer — he was left out of the first three matches. Hurst's chance came in the quarter-final against Argentina, when an injury to Jimmy Greaves opened the door, and he scored the winning goal to send England through. Manager Alf Ramsey kept faith with Hurst for the final against West Germany even after Greaves recovered fitness, and Hurst repaid that trust emphatically: his hat-trick in the 4-2 win remains the only one ever scored in a World Cup final, a record matched only by Kylian Mbappé's three goals in the 2022 final — though Mbappé's France lost that match, leaving Hurst's achievement of a match-winning final hat-trick still unique. Hurst went on to score 242 goals in 500 appearances for West Ham before later playing for Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, and moved into management with Telford United and Chelsea. He was knighted in 1998. Following the death of Sir Bobby Charlton in October 2023, Hurst became the last surviving member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team.
Only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final
He is the only player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, and his controversial third goal — 'was it over the line?' — remains one of football's most debated moments.
Did You Know?How They Played
Physical striker with excellent heading ability and clinical finishing
Lasting Impact
England's World Cup hero and one of the most iconic strikers in English football history
Career Honours
- World Cup 1966
- FA Cup 1964
- European Cup Winners' Cup 1965
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham United | 1958–1972 | — | 411 | 180 |
| Stoke City | 1972–1975 | — | 108 | 30 |
| Cape Town City | 1973–1973 | loan | 6 | 5 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1975–1976 | — | 10 | 2 |
| Cork Celtic | 1976–1976 | — | 3 | 3 |
| Seattle Sounders | 1976–1976 | — | 23 | 8 |
| Telford United | 1976–1979 | — | — | — |
 England | — | — | 49 | 24 |