Scoring four goals in a single football match is known by several names: a haul in England, a poker in Spain and many European countries, or informally as a super hat-trick. While not as universally recognized as a hat-trick, it marks a rare and dominant individual performance.
What do you call 4 goals in a match?
The terminology varies by region. In British football, "haul" is the traditional term for four goals. It's straightforward and often used in match reports. In contrast, Spanish, Italian, and French media typically use "poker," borrowed from card games, where a four-of-a-kind is a strong hand. The word "super hat-trick" is widely understood in media but isn’t officially recognized and can sound imprecise to purists.
Why is there no single global term?
Football's language has evolved differently across regions, and scoring feats beyond three goals never gained a standardized label. The hat-trick, rooted in cricket, became iconic early on. But four-goal performances are so rare that no term achieved the same cultural weight. Broadcasters and fans often default to descriptive phrases like "scored four times" rather than using a specific word.
How rare is scoring 4 goals?
It is one of the rarest individual feats in modern football. In elite leagues like the English Premier League, such performances occur only a handful of times per decade. They typically happen when a strong attacking team faces a weakened or disorganized defense, often after a red card or tactical collapse. The physical and mental demands of maintaining intensity for 90 minutes make it difficult even for elite strikers.
Can a four-goal game be 'perfect'?
A perfect hat-trick — one goal with the right foot, one with the left, and one with the head — remains valid even if a player scores a fourth. The fourth goal doesn’t erase the achievement; it adds to it. Some fans debate whether the sequence matters, but officially, no such rule exists. The concept of a "perfect" game is informal and based on style, not statistics.
Do penalties count in a four-goal match?
Yes, penalty goals count the same as any other. While some fans argue that multiple penalties diminish the achievement, converting from the spot under pressure is a skill. There is no official distinction in the record books. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored four goals in a match with penalties included, and those performances are still celebrated.