Who is Mattias Svanberg? Second-fastest substitute goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history
Svanberg netted a historic goal for Sweden in the game.
Mattias Svanberg of Sweden recorded the second-fastest goal by a substitute in FIFA World Cup history since 1966 during Sunday’s Group F encounter against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium.
The 27-year-old scored just 18 seconds after being substituted on by manager Graham Potter. He is the second fastest substitute to find the back of the net since 1966. He is behind only Richard Morales’ goal in 16 seconds for Uruguay, against Senegal in 2002.
The goal was the cherry on top for Sweden, which already had a stunning brace from Yasin Ayari plus goals from Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. Sweden went on to win the game 5–1. Following the Netherlands’ draw with Japan earlier in the day, they now lead the group F with three points.
Also read: Who is Yasin Ayari? Sweden’s 22-year-old World Cup 2026 goalscorer
Mattias Svanberg player profile
Age: 27
Club: VfL Wolfsburg
Position: Midfielder
Mattias Svanberg’s football career began at a local Swedish football club. There he enhanced his football qualities. He started his career at LB07, where he spent four years, and later joined Malmö.
At Malmo, he further nurtured his game and was promoted to their senior side. There he played for three years before he received his big break from an Italian side, Bologna, in 2018.
As Mattias Svanberg continued to climb in the football hierarchy and grew his status, he was also watched by the national team. He received his first break in 2018, but was an unused player.
As he continued to be a part of their squad in every competition, Mattias Svanberg became a key player in the Sweden squad.
In 2022, he moved to the German side VfL Wolfsburg. He has been their crucial player since 2022. However, the midfielder suffered relegation with the team last season.
Despite this, he has been a part of Sweden’s roster and was included in their 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. He now has made history for the national side as they thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in their opening World Cup game.
Also read: Five key takeaways from Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia in FIFA World Cup 2026
In how many seconds did he score after entering the pitch?
After entering the pitch, he scored in 18 seconds.
Who is the fastest substitute to score a goal in the World Cup?
Richard Morales in 16 seconds.
Who won the game?
Sweden won the game 5-1.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.