Julian Hall Sets MLS Record with Hat-Trick

Julian Hall’s impressive season carried on Wednesday night as he became the youngest player in MLS history to net a hat-trick, leading the Red Bulls to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew.

At just 18 years old, Hall has scored nine goals in the league this season and a total of 12 across all competitions for the Red Bulls, who have recently secured back-to-back wins.

Now, is this remarkable? Definitely. Hall, at 18 years and 50 days old, has surpassed the previous record held by U.S. national team striker Ricardo Pepi, who scored a hat-trick at 18 years and 195 days in 2021.

Hall’s scoring spree began in the seventh minute when he skillfully converted a cross from Cade Cowell. Speaking of Cowell, he was instrumental again, providing the setup for Hall’s second goal, this time from the right side of the field. Hall deflected the ball past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte to give the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 40th minute.

His third goal came in the 78th minute when he snagged a loose ball in front of the net, helping the Red Bulls secure their final lead, one they managed to hold onto for the last 12 minutes. It’s worth noting that Hall’s performance has elevated him above Eric Maxime Choupo-Moting in the team’s lineup, which is quite an accomplishment at this stage in his career.

While it’s a bit premature to say he’ll be a full member of the U.S. men’s national team for the upcoming World Cup, his scoring ability certainly makes him a candidate worth considering. Meanwhile, the Polish national team is also keen on securing him, with federation president Cesary Kreza visiting Hall’s mother in New York just last month.