A brace in soccer means one player scores two goals in the same match. The goals can come in either half, from penalties awarded during play, or in extra time. They do not have to be consecutive. Successful kicks in a penalty shootout are recorded separately.

Why is it called a brace?

The explanation comes from an older meaning of the word: a pair. Merriam-Webster defines this sense of “brace” as “two of a kind” and traces the noun through Middle English and Anglo-French, with roots in the Latin word for arms.

In football, that sense of a pair describes two goals scored by one player. You will also see match reports call the same achievement a “double.” A headline saying a striker “netted a brace” therefore tells you how many goals they scored, without specifying how those goals were finished.

Do the two goals have to be consecutive?

Other players can score between the two goals. A brace can also be spread across both halves, or completed within a few minutes. There is no requirement to use the same foot, score from open play or start the match. A substitute who comes on and scores twice has a brace.

For a hypothetical example, imagine a forward scores in the 15th and 78th minutes of a 3-2 defeat. A teammate and several opponents score in between. The forward still finishes with a brace, even though their team loses.

Both goals must belong to the same match. Scoring once in each leg of a knockout tie gives a player two goals across the tie. Each leg has its own scoring record, so those goals cannot be combined into a brace.

Which goals count toward a brace?

The key is whether the goal is officially credited to the player during the match. Here is how the common situations work:

With a deflected shot, check the official goalscorer. Only a goal credited to the attacker can contribute to that player’s brace. If the incident is recorded as an opponent’s own goal, the attacker’s total stays unchanged.

The shootout distinction follows IFAB’s Law 10, which states that penalty shootouts take place after the match has ended. Scoring once during the game and then converting a shootout kick leaves a player with one match goal.

Two real examples of a brace in soccer

Harry Kane against Lazio, March 5, 2024

Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Lazio in the Champions League. His goals came in the 38th and 66th minutes, with Thomas Müller scoring between them, as recorded in UEFA’s match report.

That is a straightforward example of a brace spread across two halves. Müller’s goal did not interrupt or reset Kane’s tally.

Lionel Messi against France, December 18, 2022

Messi’s brace in the 2022 World Cup final combined two different scoring situations: a first-half penalty and an extra-time finish. FIFA’s official match report lists his goals in the 23rd and 108th minutes.

The game finished 3-3 after extra time, and Argentina won the shootout 4-2. Messi also converted his shootout kick, but his match total remained two. The penalty during the game and the extra-time goal made up his brace.

What is the difference between a brace and a hat trick?

A brace is two goals by one player in a match; a hat trick is three. When a player with a brace scores again, commentators will usually say they have completed their hat trick.

The 2022 World Cup final featured both achievements: Messi finished with a brace, while Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick for France. Mbappé’s three match goals included two penalties. His successful shootout kick was recorded separately, just as Messi’s was.

When reading a scoreline, look at the individual scorers as well as the team total. A 2-0 win could feature one player’s brace or a goal from each of two teammates.