Austria made history with Christoph Baumgartner’s lightning-fast goal against Slovakia, scoring just six seconds into the game. Although this goal has set a new record for Austrian national team, it raises the question of how it compares to the fastest goals in other leagues and competitions around the world.
In the Premier League, the fastest goal was scored by Southampton’s Shane Long in 2019, taking only 7.69 seconds to find the net. La Liga’s record belongs to Joseba Llorente who scored in just 7.22 seconds. The Bundesliga’s fastest goal came from Karim Bellarabi in 9 seconds against Borussia Dortmund. Serie A saw Milan’s Rafael Leao score in just 6.2 seconds. Lastly, Ligue 1’s record dates back to 1992 when Michel Rio scored for Caen in 8 seconds.
Roy Makaay holds the record for the fastest goal in Champions League history, scoring in just 10.1 seconds. Hakan Sukur scored the fastest goal in World Cup finals history at 10.8 seconds. Dmitri Kirichenko holds the record for the fastest goal at a European Championship finals after scoring in just 67 seconds. Christian Benteke scored the fastest competitive international goal in 8.1 seconds during a World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar.
Fastest Goals in Lesser-Known Leagues
There have been some incredibly fast goals scored in lesser-known leagues and competitions. Marc Burrows scored a goal in just 2.56 seconds during an amateur match, which is officially recognized by the English Football Association as the fastest ever scored during a competitive game. Carlos Almeida scored directly from kick-off in a Coimbra regional game in Portugal, taking only 3.1 seconds. In Mexican football, Gustavo Ramirez holds the fastest goal record with a goal in just 4.1 seconds, while Gareth Morris scored in 4 seconds in the FA Cup.
While Christoph Baumgartner’s record-breaking goal for Austria is impressive, it is important to recognize the other incredible feats achieved in various leagues and competitions around the world. Speed and precision are crucial in football, and these fastest goals serve as a reminder of the thrill and excitement that the sport brings to fans globally. Whether it’s in a major league or a regional competition, these lightning-fast goals showcase the skill and talent of the players involved.