Ousmane Dembele Hailed Worldwide After First-Half Hat-Trick for France
Ousmane Dembele produced a stunning first-half performance for France against Norway on June 26, 2026, at the World Cup, as France tried to win and finish first in Group 9. He scored a hat-trick in a blistering start, with his third goal coming in the 32nd minute.
The Paris Saint-Germain star increased his France tally to 11 goals, including four in the current tournament. He also became the fastest player in France history to score two goals inside the opening 20 minutes of a match. His treble was the fourth by a French player at a World Cup. The previous French World Cup hat-tricks belonged to Just Fontaine, who had two in 1958, and Kylian Mbappe in the 2022 final.
International reaction focused on his status and role in the attack. French Football wrote that the debate over Dembele’s best position had been settled decisively, saying the Ballon d’Or winner was involved in all four of France’s latest World Cup goals and should stay on the right wing. Journalist Andres Ramos said that until this match, Dembele had never scored a brace for the national team, calling him a "monumental talent."
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