Who is Jonathan David? Juventus star who got hat-trick for Canada vs Qatar in FIFA World Cup 2026
(Courtesy : Getty)
Jonathan David scored a hat-trick in the Canada vs Qatar match tonight.
Canada sealed a thumping 6-0 win in their second Group B fixture against Qatar in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. Cyle Larin opened the scoring for the Canucks at BC Place before David scored thrice to take the match away from their opponents.
The co-hosts started the match on the front foot, and their dominance was rewarded in the 16th minute. David had a key role to play, as it was his fierce effort that was parried by Qatari goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada into the danger area. Larin was in the right place at the right time to poke it in from close range.
David, who is his nation’s all-time top scorer, then netted his first goal in the FIFA World Cup in the 29th minute. It was a stunning effort from the Juventus striker, who got to the end of a deflected strike from Tajon Buchanan before finding the bottom corner with a brilliant finish.
Qatar then shot themselves in the foot when Homam Elamin was sent off for a foul on Buchanan just outside the box. The Canucks took full advantage of the situation, with David scoring again in added time. Alistair Johnson’s cross was met by Larin, whose header was saved by Abunada. However, the loose ball fell to David, who rolled the ball into an empty net.
Following a horrific injury to Ismael Kone, the hosts cheered their fans up when Nathan Saliba scored the tournament’s first direct free-kick goal after the hour mark. Mohamed Manai then scored an unfortunate own goal to put the hosts in complete control.
David’s night was not done as he popped up with a third in injury time, scoring from a miscued attempt from Saliba, firing it past Abunada into the back of the net to complete his hat-trick. It was a historic moment as it marked the first hat-trick in a World Cup match scored by a home player since Geoff Hurst in 1966.
The three goals comprised David’s maiden strikes in the quadrennial tournament, following four goalless appearances. It was a massive improvement from his performance in the opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he had just one shot in just over an hour of playing time.
Also Read: Who is Johan Manzambi? Switzerland youngster who scored brace vs Bosnia in FIFA World Cup 2026
Jonathan David Profile
- Age: 26
- Position: Striker
- Club: Juventus (Italy)
Born in New York City, he moved to his parents’ country, Haiti, when he was just three months old. He and his family moved to Canada and settled in Ottawa when he was six years old.
He started playing football at the age of 10, playing for the academies of a number of local clubs in Ottawa. He had trials at FC Salzburg and Stuttgart, but was rejected by them. He eventually moved to Europe in 2018, joining the academy of Belgian club Gent.
He made his senior debut with the Belgian First Division A side in August, scoring a goal in stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw. Overall, he scored 30 goals in 60 appearances for his side across two seasons, prompting Lille to sign him on a five-year contract for a reported fee of 30 million euros. This made him the most expensive Canadian transfer of all time.
He took some time to find his footing in Ligue 1, but became a key player for Les Dogues by the end of the campaign. In five years with the French side, he scored 87 goals in just 178 appearances, becoming the club’s third-highest all-time goalscorer.
He then signed for Italian giants Juventus on a free transfer. Despite scoring on his Serie A debut, he had a tough campaign, finishing his first season with the Bianconeri on eight goals and five assists across all competitions.
Despite being called up by the USA U-20 side, David remained committed to representing Canada. He made his senior debut for the Canucks in 2018, scoring twice and registering an assist against the US Virgin Islands. Since then, he has earned 79 caps, scoring 42 goals and registering 20 assists.
Who is Jonathan David?
He is a 26‑year‑old striker who plays for Juventus in Serie A and the Canada national team.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.