Barbra Banda Makes Olympics History With Third Hat-Trick
Barbra Banda of Zambia is now the first women’s soccer player to score three hat-tricks at the Olympics.
Zambian forward Barbra Banda has added another feather to her cap. She achieved the historic milestone of scoring three hat-tricks in the Olympics in Zambia's group B game against Australia over the weekend. The match ended with a 6-5 scoreline in favor of Australia.
Banda, who is also captain of the Copper Queens, scored twice in the first 33 minutes and completed her hat-trick in stoppage time of the first half, giving Zambia a 4-2 lead at the break. This performance not only highlights her exceptional skill but also surpasses Brazil’s Cristiane’s record of two Olympic hat-tricks.
Banda’s remarkable feat builds on her previous achievements, including being the first woman to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Her stellar track record also boasts 53 goals for Zambia, a successful stint in the Chinese Women’s Super League, and a near-record transfer to a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side earlier in the year, which made her the second most expensive women’s football player in history.
Before Zambia's opening game against the U.S. last week, Emma Hayes, USWNT head coach described her as "the most in-form striker in world football." While Zambia has lost both matches played so far, what is undeniable is the fact that Banda will always show up and deliver.