Top 10 fastest goals in men's International football history

Published at :March 27, 2024 at 6:42 PM

Modified at :March 27, 2024 at 6:42 PM

These goals have been scored in FIFA-recognised tournaments and matches

Scoring goals is the main decisive factor in football. Scoring a goal at a club level is a benchmark but scoring for your country is the best feeling there can be. Many players have struggled to get a call-up for their country let alone score a goal. However, some elite players have made an instant impact scoring some of the fastest goals. Let’s take a look at the top 10 fastest goals scored in men’s International football.

10. Yan Naing Oo – 13 seconds

Myanmar’s Naing Oo was the hero in their 2-2 draw against India in the 2017 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The match was played in India’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. As the match started, Myanmar’s left-back Si Thu Aung played a one-two with left-winger Thein Than Win. This completely opened up the play and the cross was met by Yan Naing Oo who stunned the hosts with an early lead.

Surprisingly enough, Yan Naing Oo has amassed 23 caps for his country and has scored only one goal which is one of the fastest in men’s International football.

9. I.M Vijayan – 12 seconds

India were playing the second match against Bhutan in the South Asian Games in 1999 held in Kathmandu. I.M. Vijayan was in impeccable form as he scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in the previous game. Vijayan bagged India’s quickest goal to date in just 12 seconds and gave India an early lead.

Vijayan also bagged two more goals in that match to help India win 3-0. I.M. Vijayan also scored another goal in the final against Maldives to help India win the tournament.

8. Diego Souza – 11 seconds

Brazil’s fastest-ever goal came in a 4-0 friendly against Australia in a friendly back in 2017. Tottenham Hotspurs manager Ange back then manager of the Australian team suffered a heavy defeat against Brazil. Moreover, an error in the Australian team’s midfield led to the ball going right towards Souza’s path. Diego hit the ball cleanly which the Australian keeper got a hand to buy but could not save.

Diego Souza got his sixth cap eight years later after he received his first call-up in 2009 following an injury to Brazil’s main striker Gabriel Jesus. Diego made the best of his sixth call-up as he scored Brazil’s fastest goal and he scored another goal in the same match as well.

7. Hakan Sukur – 11 seconds

To score the fastest goal in a tournament for your country is an extraordinary achievement. However, Hakan Sukur did it on the biggest stage and tournament ever.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was hosted by Japan/South Korea. Turkey were the underdogs in the tournament and they proved everyone wrong as they finished third in the tournament following a semifinal defeat against Brazil. In a third-place play-off match against co-hosts South Korea, Turkey won 3-2 with Hakan Sukur scoring the fastest goal ever in the FIFA World Cup. Hakan had not scored in six games up until this match and eventually scored the fastest goal ever and got two assists as well.

6. Paul Onuachu – 9 seconds

Onuachu held the record of an African player scoring the fastest goal ever. Paul Onuachu’s first-ever goal for his country is Nigeria’s fastest goal ever. Paul scored this within the first ten seconds of a friendly against Egypt in 2019. After this Paul Onuachu was hailed as the ” toast of Nigerian football”.

This goal laid the foundation for Onuachu as he played in the 2019 AFCON winning the Bronze medal and received another callup for the 2023 AFCON to replace injured Umar Sadiq.

5. Davide Gualtieri – 8.7 seconds

Hakan Sukur has scored the fastest goal in the history of the FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, Davide Gualtieri once held the record for the fastest goal scored in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Davide, a player of San Marino bagged the fastest goal ever scored in a World Cup qualifier and held the record for over 23 years. Gualtieri scored against England goalkeeper David Seaman in 8.7 seconds from an under-hit backpass

Although it is a great record individually, in that very match San Marino lost 7-1 against England.

4. Christian Benteke – 8.1 seconds

Once it was Gualtieri’s record but Benteke now holds the record for the fastest goal scored in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match. Benteke broke Gualtieri’s record after scoring for England in a World Cup qualifier match against Gibraltar in 8.1 seconds.

After kickoff, Christian Benteke immediately intercepted a pass and weaved through Gibraltar’s defence to score in 8.1 seconds. Eventually, Benteke bagged a hat-trick against Gibraltar as England won 6-0 to stay top of their group.

3. Florian Wirtz – 7 seconds

In what has been a very inconsistent patch of runs from the German football team over the years, they proved themselves against France In a friendly. Florian Wirtz has been performing well for Bayern Leverkusen at a club level and the German showed instant impact as he scored his first goal in just 7 seconds against France.

The routine was often practiced and Wirtz executed it well as he hit a powerful shot which hit the crossbar and went in. Toni Kroos, a German legend made his return to the team and assisted Wirtz’s goal.

2. Lukas Podolski – 6 seconds

Podolski holds the record for the fastest-ever goal scored by a German football player. In May 2013, Lukas Podolski scored a goal for Germany within seven seconds against Ecuador in a 4-2 win.

Podolski was a well-known player, being the third most capped German player and their third top scorer as well. Podolski also had a very strong left foot and was a player to watch out for in the friendly bout.

1. Christoph Baumgartner – 6 seconds

Austrian football team player Christian Baumgartner officially holds the record for the fastest goal ever scored in men’s International football. Baumgartner achieved this feat recently in a friendly match against Slovakia in just 6 seconds

The majority of the fastest goals scored are from errors made by the opposition team however it was different in this case. Straight from the kickoff, Baumgartner received the ball right in the centre dribbled past two players at once and placed a well-struck shot in the bottom corner.

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