Thirteen goals have been scored in the opening minute of matches at the men’s FIFA World Cup. We rank the fastest in the competition’s history.
Goals Scored in the Opening Minute of World Cup Games
11 seconds: Hakan Sükür – Turkey (vs Korea Republic) – 29 June 200215 seconds: Vaclav Masek – Czechoslovakia (vs Mexico) – 7 June 196225 seconds: Ernest Lehner – Germany (vs Austria) – 7 June 193428 seconds: Bryan Robson – England (vs France) – 16 June 198230 seconds: Clint Dempsey – United States (vs Ghana) – 16 June 201431 seconds: Bernard Lacombe – France (vs Italy) – 2 June 197835 seconds: Arne Nyberg – Sweden (vs Hungary) – 16 June 193835 seconds: Emile Veinante – France (vs Belgium) – 5 June 193850 seconds: Pak Seung-zin – North Korea (vs Portugal) – 23 July 196650 seconds: Florian Albert – Hungary (vs Belgium) – 3 June 196250 seconds: Adalbert Desu – Romania (vs Peru) – 14 June 193052 seconds: Celso Ayala – Paraguay (vs Nigeria) – 24 June 199855 seconds: Zanka – Denmark (vs Croatia) – 1 July 2018
Hakan Sükür’s Record-Breaking Goal
Hakan Sükür holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in a men’s FIFA World Cup match. The Turkish striker scored just 11 seconds into Turkey’s game against co-hosts South Korea in their 2002 third-place play-off clash.
Amazingly, South Korea kicked off in the match, stringing three passes together before the ball found the feet of central defender Hong Myung-bo. He lost concentration and allowed İlhan Mansız to steal possession before feeding Sükür, who made no mistake from just inside the box.
Sükür came into the match having failed to score in his five previous appearances at the 2002 tournament, despite attempting eight shots across 435 minutes of action. His strike in this game was Sükür’s only goal at a World Cup, but it helped his nation secure a third-place finish as they beat South Korea 3-2.
His goal replaced Vaclav Masek’s 15-second strike in June 1962 as the quickest goal scored in a men’s World Cup.
That goal also arrived within the opening seconds of the game despite the opposition kicking off. Mexico began the match but a careless pass on the halfway line gave the ball to Josef Masopust, who dribbled past a couple of Mexican players before feeding Masek, who slotted the ball underneath Antonio Carbajal to open the scoring.
Despite Czechoslovakia’s brilliant start, Mexico came from behind to eventually prevail 3-1. Nevertheless, Mexico failed to progress from the group stage and the Czechs made it through, before eventually losing in the final to Brazil.
The Fastest Own Goal in World Cup History
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Sead Kolasinac holds the unfortunate record of scoring the fastest own goal in men’s FIFA World Cup history, putting past his own goalkeeper against Argentina in the 2014 group stage after just 130 seconds (2:10).
Defending at the back post from a Lionel Messi free-kick, Kolasinac was caught out when a header from an Argentine attacker hit his legs and deflected past Asmir Begovic into the net.That goal broke the previous record for the fastest own goal in a World Cup match by 36 seconds. That was held by Paraguayan captain Carlos Gamarra, who headed David Beckham’s deep free-kick into his own net in their opener against England at the 2006 tournament.
The Fastest Penalty Scored in World Cup History
The 1974 World Cup final between the Netherlands and West Germany witnessed the quickest penalty ever scored in a match at the men’s tournament. The man who holds the record is Johan Neeskens, who opened the scoring for the Dutch after just one minute and 26 seconds.The game was 45 seconds old when Johan Cruyff was fouled by Uli Hoeneß, after the forward drove with the ball from near the halfway line into the box. Neeskens’ third penalty goal of the tournament is also still the fastest ever goal in a men’s World Cup final.
West Germany had already turned the match in their favour before half-time, however, thanks to a penalty from Paul Breitner in the 26th minute and a 43rd-minute strike from Gerd Müller. The second half didn’t bring the Netherlands and Cruyff what some thought they deserved as arguably one of the best international teams ever.
They’re still widely regarded as one of the best sides to not win the World Cup.
The Fastest World Cup Goal Scored by a Substitute
Richard Morales was on the pitch for just 16 seconds before scoring for Uruguay against Senegal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. That remains the quickest goal scored by a substitute in the competition’s history.
Needing a victory in their final group game against the Senegalese, Uruguay were in an awful position at half-time, losing 3-0. Morales and Diego Forlán came off the bench at the break in an attempt to rescue the game, and Morales made a near-instant impact to score 16 seconds into the second half after following up a shot saved by Tony Sylva.Uruguay found two more goals to level the score via Forlán in the 69th minute and Álvaro Recoba from the penalty spot in the 88th minute, but their comeback was in vain as they exited the tournament.
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