Julian Hall becomes youngest hat‑trick scorer in MLS history

Julian Hall’s name is getting louder by the week in Major League Soccer, and now the New York Red Bulls phenom has a historic record to back it up.

The 18‑year‑old forward just became the youngest player ever to score a hat trick in MLS, shattering a mark once held by U.S. rising star Ricardo Pepi.

Hall did it at 18 years and 50 days, beating Pepi’s previous record of 18 years and 196 days — a massive leap for a player who’s been hyped as one of the brightest American prospects of his generation.

When did Julian Hall score his historic hat trick?

Born in New York City on March 24, 2008, Hall delivered his breakout moment in Matchday 13 against the Columbus Crew, lighting up the scoreboard with three goals that powered the Red Bulls to a crucial win.

• His first goal came just 7 minutes into the match.
• He doubled the lead in the 40th minute.
• And he sealed the hat trick — and the victory — in the 78th minute, pushing New York into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

It wasn’t just a hat trick — it was a statement.

How many goals does Julian Hall have in the 2026 MLS season?

Through just 13 matches, Hall has already scored nine goals, placing him fourth in the MLS Golden Boot race. The only players ahead of him:

• Hugo Cuypers (Chicago Fire)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Petar Musa (FC Dallas)

Not bad company for a teenager barely old enough to vote.

Why it matters

Hall isn’t just scoring — he’s scoring with confidence, maturity, and timing that feel way beyond his age. The Red Bulls academy has produced talent before, but Hall is quickly positioning himself as one of the most exciting young American forwards in years.

If he keeps this pace, Europe will come calling sooner rather than later.

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