What Is a Brace in Soccer?

The term brace is exclusive to soccer and they are most likely to be scored by forwards.

Lionel Messi has scored plenty of braces during his career. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

New soccer fans might come across a few terms or abbreviations that are not used in any other sport.

It can be overwhelming, learning the rules of an unfamiliar sport while also keeping up with a long list of foreign expressions, especially if you have never played or watched soccer before.

One such example is the term "brace", which often leaves newcomers curious about its meaning.

So, what is a brace? And where does the term come from?

What is a brace in soccer?

The top strikers love scoring a brace. / Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

A brace in soccer is when a player scores two goals in the same match.

Although scoring two goals in one game might not sound like a monumental feat, it is much harder than it sounds, especially against the best opponents in the world. Even superstars like Erling Haaland and Harry Kane do not consistently find the back of the net twice in a single game.

Cristiano Ronaldo has the most braces of any soccer player in history. The Portuguese phenom has netted well over 200 of them in his career.

Why is it called a brace?

In soccer, the term "brace" originates from Old English, where "brace" meant "a pair of something," often used to describe a pair of hunted animals.

The word "brace" also has roots in Old French, where it originally meant "arms" or "a pair of arms."

What is a famous example of a brace in soccer?

Ronaldo scored a brace in the 2002 World Cup final. / Ulmer/IMAGO

Ronaldo Nazario scored one of the most famous braces in soccer history in the 2002 World Cup final.

The legendary striker, known as "The Phenomenon," scored both of Brazil's goals as they beat Germany 2-0 to lift the trophy for the fifth time.

Ronaldo's two goals came just 12 minutes apart, with his first in the 67th minute and his second in the 79th minute.

What is a hat-trick in soccer?

A hat-trick in soccer is when a player scores three goals in the same game. A forward's ultimate accomplishment is seeing their name pop up three times on the final score sheet.

Unsurprisingly, the two best players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have the most hat-tricks of all time, with over 50 each throughout their club and international careers.

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