Dembélé's first-half hat-trick puts France in command against Norway at World Cup 2026

Ousmane Dembélé delivered one of the standout individual performances of the 2026 World Cup on Friday, scoring three goals in the first 32 minutes as France took control of their match against Norway at Boston Stadium.

All three goals arrived before the half-hour mark, making the Paris Saint-Germain winger the first player to score a first-half hat-trick at a men’s FIFA World Cup since Russia’s Oleg Salenko netted five times in a single game at the 1994 tournament.

Dembélé’s treble showcased the full range of his attacking ability. He opened his account by powering a right-footed effort home, then added a curling left-foot finish before completing the hat-trick from a similar position — combining the technique of his first two goals into a third that underlined his dominance of the contest.

Entering Friday’s match with just one tournament goal to his name, Dembélé now sits on four for the competition. That total places him second in the Golden Boot race, behind Lionel Messi, who leads with five goals. He also joins Messi and Canada’s Jonathan David as only the third player to score a hat-trick at this tournament.

The performance will inevitably fuel debate about Dembélé’s place among the elite forwards at this World Cup. Long regarded as one of the most gifted wide players in Europe, the 27-year-old has often been scrutinised for inconsistency — but a first-half hat-trick on football’s biggest stage leaves little room for qualification.