In 1966 Geoff Hurst became the only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final - a record that still stands today.

His three goals secured England's biggest triumph in the world's biggest football tournament made him an icon in English football.

However, if prolific goal scorer Jimmy Greaves had been fit throughout the entire competition, then Hurst may never have even played in the final.

Making his international debut against West Germany in the build up to the 1966 finals, Hurst started on the bench in all of England's group matches. But Greaves suffered an injury against Uruguay which needed stitches - ruling him out of the quarter-final and giving Hurst his opportunity, which he duly took.

In a tightly contested game with the physical Argentinean's, a near post glancing header from Hurst was enough to give England victory. An assist in the semi-final win over Portugal was enough to convince Sir Alf Ramsey that the West Ham striker was worthy of a place in the starting eleven for the final against the Germans.

The final would turn out to be a day that changed the life of Hurst, who was to become immortalised in English football history.

With 19 minutes gone and England 1-0 down, Hurst levelled the scores with a thunderous header past the German keeper from Bobby Moore's free-kick.

He had a hand in England's second goal when his attempted shot deflected to Martin Peters who rammed England into the lead, but a German equaliser in injury time forced the game into an extra period.

In extra-time, Hurst scored one of the most controversial goals in English football, when his right footed effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced over, or possibly only onto, the line - with the linesman signalling the goal despite the protest of the Germans.

In the last minute of extra-time England's impeccable skipper Moore hit a raking pass that Hurst latched onto and smashed into the top corner with his left foot, completing the perfect hat-trick.

The goal sealed England's win and made Hurst into a national hero and a World Cup winner at the age of just 24.

Hurst continued as England's main centre forward up until 1972, playing in the 1970 World Cup and scoring against Romania, before retiring from international football with 49 caps.

He is England's 11th all-time top goal scorer with 24 goals and was knighted in 1998.

Stay with TheFA.com as we continue our England A to Z. Tomorrow - letter I.