The first American to record a Bundesliga hat trick was not Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent or any of the numerous U.S. players who have competed in Germany’s revered soccer league the past 25 years.
The honor belongs to Matthew Hoppe, a 19-year-old forward from Orange County, Calif., who has never played for the U.S. national team at any age level. In his fifth Bundesliga appearance Saturday, Hoppe scored three goals in a 21-minute span bridging halftime to help Schalke defeat visiting Hoffenheim, 4-0, and end a 30-game winless streak in league play.
He is the fourth U.