If you ask football fans about the fastest hat trick in MLS history, some might immediately think of lightning strikes by elite European strikers. But in Major League Soccer, that record belongs to Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar, who carved his name into the league’s lore one summer night. In this article, DeutKick will walk you through how the record was set, the background of Mukhtar’s feat, comparisons to previous marks, and whether it might ever be broken.
The record-setting night: Mukhtar’s 6-minute masterclass
On July 17, 2021, Nashville SC hosted Chicago Fire FC. What looked like a routine evening turned into a historical spectacle. Hany Mukhtar struck in the 10th, 13th, and 16th minutes—three goals in just six minutes. That run gave him the fastest hat trick in MLS history and the fastest.
The match didn’t just showcase Mukhtar’s finishing. Chicago went down to 10 men in the 14th minute, after Johan Kappelhof was sent off. But though that red card partly influenced the flow, Mukhtar’s ruthlessness was undeniable: the second and third goals arrived in rapid succession, leaving the opposition reeling. The final score? 5–1 to Nashville, with C.J. Sapong and Brian Anunga adding late goals to seal the night.
Mukhtar’s treble is not only the fastest from game start, but also tied to the notion of “fastest hat trick in MLS” in many modern reports—even though a legendary mark.
Old guard vs new: Karapetyan’s 5-minute mark
Before Mukhtar’s blazing performance, the benchmark for speed was set by Harut Karapetyan of LA Galaxy. On June 4, 1998, Karapetyan scored three goals in under five minutes during an 8–1 win over Dallas Burn. That feat remains the single fastest hat trick in terms of pure elapsed time.
So, how do both records stand alongside each other?
- Karapetyan holds the speed crown: under five minutes.
- **Mukhtarastest hat trick from the start of a match and the modern-era record of six minutes.
That nuance is crucial. Many headlines hail Mukhtar’s feat as if surpassing the absolute mark—but the Karapetyan record still technically remains unbeaten.
Meet Hany Mukhtar: more than just one night
Hany Mukhtar is a German-born attacking midfielder/forward who joined Nashville SC in their inaugural MLS season. He quickly became the face of their offense and a player of striking efficiency. His 2021 season was the stuff of legend: he led the league in combined goals and assists, earned multiple MLS Team of the Week honors, and cemented his status as a clutch performer.
The Nashville faithful remember July 2021 not just for the stat line, but the emotion. Mukhtar’s hat trick arrived within the first quarter of the match, sending fans into delirium and turning the game into a statement of intent. That performance elevated his status beyond reliable scorer to unpredictable difference-maker.
Why Mukhtar’s mark matters in MLS history
Why does this record resonate? A few reasons:
- Symbolic of league growth – MLS was once seen as a haven for aging stars. Mukhtar, in his prime, rewriting history, underscores the league’s evolution.
- Benchmark for excellence – Young forwards and attackers now point to Mukhtar’s six-minute run as the target to beat.
- Narrative value – Records are stories. Mukhtar’s feat gives fans, analysts, and commentators a touchstone for comparisons across seasons.
And from an SEO perspective? The phrase fastest hat trick in MLS history works its way naturally into narratives about records, player legacies, and statistical leaderboards.
What it would take to break the record
Could someone ever smash these times? It’s unlikely but not impossible. Let’s consider the variables:
- Early momentum: A hat trick before the 20th minute gives ample time buffer.
- Weak opposition or red card: A defensive collapse or numerical disadvantage helps.
- Clinical finishing: No room for misses or misfires.
- Match context: Rivalry matches, momentum swings, and high stakes can push players to extremes.
To beat Karapetyan’s under-5-minute span, a player would need near-perfect execution and probably assistance (e.g. weakened defense). As for surpassing Mukhtar’s fastest-from-start mark, one would need three goals before minute 10. That’s a nearly impossible gauntlet.
Still, football is unpredictable. Records fall when least expected.
Other fastest MLS hat tricks of note
Here are a few standout rapid hat tricks across MLS history:
- Mukhtar’s 6-minute span is widely celebrated, and the fastest.
- Karapetyan’s under 5-minute hat trick remains the absolute fastest in league history.
- Some reports have misattributed older marks or misread times, but MLS’s official records recognize these two benchmarks.
These records aren’t just trivia—they shape how fans debate “greatest games”, how commentators contextualize scoring runs, and how clubs market goal scorers.
Conclusion
In summary, the fastest hat trick in MLS history is a contest between legends: Harut Karapetyan’s sub-5-minute blitz from 1998 and Hany Mukhtar’s 6-minute wonder, both records coexist—with Karapetyan owning absolute time supremacy and Mukhtar claiming the fastest.
DeutKick encourages you to dive deeper: track upcoming matches, watch scorers in form, and see if a new wonder moment arrives in MLS. Bookmark this page and return when new records are set—or when debates flare up between fans about the quickest treble in league history.
