Chelsea FC has been graced with some unforgettable performances throughout its history, and few things stand out more than when a player nets four goals in a single game.
These extraordinary displays of skill and precision are etched into the club’s rich history, showcasing some of the greatest attacking talents to ever don the blue shirt.
In this article, we look back at the players who have managed to score four goals in a game for Chelsea, with a special mention to the latest hero, Cole Palmer, and a notable addition of Olivier Giroud’s remarkable performance.
Chelsea Players Who Scored Four Goals in a Game
1. Gianluca Vialli – Barnsley 0-6 Chelsea (August 1997)
The late Gianluca Vialli was the first Chelsea player to score four goals in a Premier League match, achieving the feat in a stunning 6-0 win over Barnsley in August 1997.
The game took place during the opening stages of the 1997/98 season when Chelsea was temporarily playing away from Stamford Bridge due to redevelopment work. Vialli’s performance included a variety of goals, ranging from a ferocious first-time finish to a deft dink over the goalkeeper, a header, and a close-range strike.
This display of clinical finishing announced Vialli’s arrival at Chelsea in style, and his legacy remains a significant chapter in the club’s history.
2. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – Chelsea 6-1 Coventry City (October 2000)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, one of Chelsea’s most prolific strikers, made an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge following his move from Atletico Madrid.
In October 2000, he put on a masterclass in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful with a sensational four-goal performance in a 6-1 win over Coventry City.
Hasselbaink’s goals came in a variety of forms: a penalty, a long-range strike, a rebound from a saved Gianfranco Zola shot, and a cool left-footed finish.
His brilliant hat-trick performance was capped off with another goal, securing his place in Chelsea history as one of the club’s most lethal finishers.
3. Frank Lampard – Chelsea 6-1 Derby County (March 2008)
Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time top scorer, is no stranger to high-scoring matches. In March 2008, he put on an unforgettable show against Derby County, scoring four goals in a 6-1 victory. Lampard’s first goal came from a penalty, and the rest followed in rapid succession during the second half.
A tap-in after excellent work from Joe Cole, a stunning 20-yard strike, and a clever left-footed finish completed his impressive haul. This performance epitomized Lampard’s knack for being in the right place at the right time, and his ability to score goals from different positions on the pitch made him a true Chelsea legend.
4. Frank Lampard – Chelsea 7-1 Aston Villa (April 2010)
Two years later, in April 2010, Lampard was at it again, this time against Aston Villa in a 7-1 demolition that played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s journey to the Premier League title that season.
Lampard scored another four goals, with two penalties—both won by Yuri Zhirkov—plus two more typical Lampard finishes. His performances during this campaign were vital in Chelsea’s title-winning run, and this match was a testament to his consistency and ability to deliver when it mattered most.
5. Olivier Giroud – Chelsea 4-0 Sevilla (December 2020)
Olivier Giroud, who was often a reliable striker for Chelsea, earned his place in this list with a remarkable four-goal performance in the Champions League group stage against Sevilla in December 2020.
The Frenchman’s clinical display saw him score four goals in a dominant 4-0 win at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium. His goals were a mixture of headers, clinical finishes, and predatory positioning, and it was a performance that highlighted his ability to score in key moments on the European stage.
Giroud’s goal-scoring exploits were instrumental in Chelsea’s successful Champions League campaign, making this match one of the most memorable in recent history.
6. Cole Palmer – Chelsea 6-0 Everton (April 2024)
The young Chelsea star Cole Palmer took his place among Chelsea’s legendary goal-scorers with a sensational four-goal haul against Everton in April 2024.
Palmer’s first-ever four-goal performance included a perfect hat-trick inside just 29 minutes—an audacious nutmeg, a precise one-two, and a stunning 20-yard finish past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The goals kept coming with a close-range header, a long-range strike capitalizing on a poor clearance from Pickford, and a penalty to complete his perfect day. This electrifying performance not only announced Palmer as a key player for Chelsea but also showcased his versatility and composure in front of goal.
7. Cole Palmer – Chelsea 4-2 Brighton (September 2024)
Palmer followed up his incredible performance against Everton with another remarkable display in the 2024/25 Premier League season. In Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton in September 2024, Palmer became the first player since 1992 to score all four of Chelsea’s goals in a single league game.
His goals were a mixture of a penalty, a free-kick, and two sweet left-footed finishes, with each goal demonstrating his exceptional technique and ability to score in various situations.
Palmer’s continued rise at Chelsea has seen him cement his place among the club’s great goal-scorers, and his two four-goal games in a matter of months mark him as one of the club’s most exciting young talents.
Full List of Chelsea Players Who Have Scored Four Goals in a Game:
- Sep 1906: George Hilsdon (5 goals) vs Glossop (h) – 9-2 Div 2
- Nov 1907: George Hilsdon (4 goals) vs Bristol C (h) – 4-1 Div 1
- Jan 1908: George Hilsdon (6 goals) vs Worksop (h) – 9-1 FA Cup
- Jan 1913: Bob Whittingham (4 goals) vs Southend (h) – 5-2 FA Cup
- Sep 1924: William Whitton (4 goals) vs Leicester (h) – 4-0 Div 2
- Dec 1927: Jimmy Thompson (4 goals) vs South Shields (h) – 6-0 Div 2
- Dec 1934: Dick Spence (4 goals) vs Liverpool (h) – 4-1 Div 1
- Mar 1935: Joe Bambrick (4 goals) vs Leeds Utd (h) – 7-1 Div 1
- Apr 1935: Joe Bambrick (4 goals) vs Man City (h) – 4-2 Div 1
- Dec 1957: Jimmy Greaves (4 goals) vs Portsmouth (h) – 7-4 Div 1
- Aug 1958: Jimmy Greaves (5 goals) vs Wolves (h) – 6-2 Div 1
- Dec 1959: Jimmy Greaves (5 goals) vs Preston (a) – 5-4 Div 1
- Dec 1960: Jimmy Greaves (5 goals) vs West Brom (h) – 7-1 Div 1
- Mar 1961: Jimmy Greaves (4 goals) vs Newcastle (a) – 6-1 Div 1
- Apr 1961: Jimmy Greaves (4 goals) vs Nottm Forest (h) – 4-3 Div 1
- Dec 1962: Bobby Tambling (4 goals) vs Charlton (a) – 4-1 Div 2
- May 1963: Bobby Tambling (4 goals) vs Portsmouth (h) – 7-0 Div 2
- Mar 1964: Bobby Tambling (4 goals) vs Arsenal (a) – 4-2 Div 1
- Sep 1966: Bobby Tambling (5 goals) vs Aston Villa (a) – 6-2 Div 1
- Feb 1969: Bobby Tambling (4 goals) vs Sunderland (h) – 5-1 Div 1
- Dec 1969: Peter Osgood (4 goals) vs Crystal Palace (a) – 5-1 Div 1
- Sep 1971: Peter Osgood (5 goals) vs Jeunesse (h) – 13-0 Cup Winners’ Cup
- Sep 1983: Kerry Dixon (4 goals) vs Gillingham (h) – 4-0 League Cup
- Jan 1985: Kerry Dixon (4 goals) vs Wigan (a) – 5-0 FA Cup
- Feb 1989: Gordon Durie (5 goals) vs Walsall (a) – 7-0 Div 2
- Apr 1989: Kerry Dixon (4 goals) vs Barnsley (h) – 5-3 Div 2
- Aug 1997: Gianluca Vialli (4 goals) vs Barnsley (a) – 6-0 Premier League
- Oct 2000: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (4 goals) vs Coventry City (h) – 6-1 Premier League
- Mar 2008: Frank Lampard (4 goals) vs Derby County (h) – 6-1 Premier League
- Apr 2010: Frank Lampard (4 goals) vs Aston Villa (h) – 7-1 Premier League
- Dec 2020: Olivier Giroud (4 goals) vs Sevilla (a) – 4-0 Champions League
- Apr 2024: Cole Palmer (4 goals) vs Everton (h) – 6-0 Premier League
- Sep 2024: Cole Palmer (4 goals) vs Brighton (h) – 4-2 Premier League
