Julian Hall Sets New Major League Soccer Record for Youngest Hat Trick
Introduction
Julian Hall, an 18-year-old forward playing for Red Bull New York, has become the youngest player in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to score a hat trick.
Main Body
On May 13, 2026, Hall led Red Bull New York to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew by scoring three goals. At 18 years and 50 days old, he broke the previous record held by Ricardo Pepi, who achieved the feat in 2021. This success is part of a larger strategy by head coach Michael Bradley to give more playing time to young talents, including players like Adri Mehmeti and Matthew Dos Santos. Hall's professional career started on September 30, 2023, when he made his debut at just 15 years old. Since then, his role in the team has grown steadily, moving from one appearance in 2023 to 26 matches in 2025. He has shown great productivity this season, with reports stating he has scored between nine and twelve goals. Furthermore, Hall gained valuable experience playing with the RB Leipzig Under-19 team in Germany. Regarding his international career, Hall is a citizen of both the United States and Poland. Although he has played for the U.S. at the U15 and U17 levels, he has not yet played for the senior national team. While it is unlikely that he will be selected for the World Cup under coach Mauricio Pochettino, it is still possible. Meanwhile, other league news includes Lionel Messi scoring two goals in Inter Miami's 5-3 win over Cincinnati, and Cavan Sullivan scoring his first MLS goal for the Philadelphia Union.
Conclusion
Julian Hall now holds the record for the youngest hat-trick scorer in the MLS, helping Red Bull New York improve their position in the Eastern Conference.
Learning
⚡ The 'B2 Leap': Moving Beyond Simple Sentences
At an A2 level, you usually write like this: "Julian Hall is young. He scored three goals. He is very good."
To reach B2, you need to connect ideas using specific words that show how two thoughts relate. Look at these patterns from the text:
🛠 The 'Addition' Engine
Instead of just saying "and," the author uses "Furthermore."
- What it does: It tells the reader, "I have already given you one important fact, and now I'm adding something even more impressive."
- Example from text: "Furthermore, Hall gained valuable experience... in Germany."
⚖️ The 'Contrast' Balance
B2 students don't just use "but." They use "Although" and "While" to create complex balance in a sentence.
- The Logic:
- Text Analysis: "Although he has played for the U.S... he has not yet played for the senior national team."
- Why it's B2: You aren't just listing facts; you are analyzing the contradiction between his youth levels and the senior team.
📈 Describing Growth (Precision Vocabulary)
Stop using "go up" or "get better." Use words that describe the way something changes:
- "Grown steadily": This means it didn't happen all at once; it was a smooth, constant increase.
- "Valuable experience": This replaces "good experience," adding a professional tone.
Pro Tip: Next time you describe a hobby or your job, try to use "Furthermore" to add a detail and "Although" to show a challenge you faced. This is the fastest way to sound like a B2 speaker.