At both club and international level, it has been a journey for Republic of Ireland forward Troy Parrott to find his way in European football.
On November 16, with his nation's 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes in critical condition, he provided a moment that neither Parrott nor Ireland fans will soon forget.
The striker's 96th-minute winner over Hungary dramatically sent the Boys in Green to the UEFA World Cup qualification playoff phase. They had needed a victory to progress and were trailing 2-1 with 10 minutes to go in Budapest.
Parrott's heroics came at the end of an amazing week in which he had previously outshone Cristiano Ronaldo to give Ireland hope in a World Cup qualifying campaign that had looked certain to end in disappointment.
AllSportsPeople brings you everything you need to know about the former Tottenham youth product who delivered a truly iconic moment of magic for his country.
MORE: A full roundup of UEFA World Cup qualifying standings, results, schedule, and more
Who is Troy Parrott?
Now 23 years old, Parrott has been a regular for the Republic of Ireland national team for nearly a half-decade. He made his international debut in 2019, logging 63 minutes and bagging an assist in a 3-1 friendly win over New Zealand.
After an ankle injury kept him from competing for a starting job for the next year, he would find a way into the Ireland squad on a more permanent basis in 2021, scoring his first two international goals in a 4-1 win over Andorra that summer on just his fifth appearance.
While his career began in England, he would not find club success until moving abroad. As a Tottenham Hotspur youth product, he would make just two appearances for the Premier League side while being shipped out to the likes of Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons, Preston North End, and Excelsior on loan.
It was that final stop that saw him find a permanent home, as he made waves in the Netherlands by scoring 10 goals in 25 regular-season matches for Excelsior, plus another seven goals in four playoff games at the end of the season.
What club does Troy Parrott play for?
As of 2025/26, Parrott plays for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar of the Eredivisie.
He joined AZ in the summer of 2024 on a €4 million deal from Tottenham, immediately slotting into the starting lineup and excelling almost as soon as he landed back in the Netherlands after his previous productive loan spell.
After scoring 14 goals in 28 league matches his first year at the club, he netted six goals in the first seven matches of the 2025/26 season.
Troy Parrott scores heroic late goal in World Cup qualifying
The highlight of Parrott's international career to date was the winning goal he scored against Hungary in the final match of their group-stage journey through 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
He found the back of the net in the 96th minute to secure a 3-2 win for the Republic of Ireland, scoring with almost the last kick of the game to secure a place in the playoff round at their opponent's expense.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, nearly at the halfway line, booted a prayer into the penalty area. It found the head of Liam Scales, who flicked the ball on to Parrott on the doorstep for the point-blank poke into the net.
Troy Parrott, take your place on the pantheon of Irish greats 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/KATKNMZO4g
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 16, 2025
While he will be remembered for that single moment, it was a memorable 90 minutes for Parrott, whose winning goal was his third of the match. The hat-trick was his first in international competition, bringing him to double digits for career international goals.
Troy Parrott goals vs. Portugal
Prior to the Hungary game, Parrott had breathed life into Ireland's qualification hopes by leading his side to a surprise 2-0 win over Portugal in Dublin.
In a match in which Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for violent conduct, Parrott scored twice to secure three invaluable points and give his team a chance ahead of the visit to Budapest.