
This article listsgoals which have been considered among the fastest ever scored inassociation football matches. The records concerning the fastest goals are disputed for a number of reasons. Ray Spiller of theAssociation of Football Statisticians has argued that as there is no official system for recognizing the timing of goals there are always going to be disputes concerning these records.[1]
In addition, many of the goals listed in theGuinness World Records as being among the fastest were not filmed, preventing the precise timing of goals from being assessed.[1] The status ofNawaf Al-Abed's goal which is credited as being scored after two seconds is also disputed given that the match was later declared void due to ineligible players, when several players over the age of 23 were found to have played in the age restricted game.
Marc Burrows' goal has also been considered the fastest ever but it was scored in an amateur reserve game. As there is no standard size for a football pitch some of the goals listed benefit from being played on smaller pitches that require the ball to travel a shorter distance before reaching the goal. Furthermore, many of the records listed come from English language publications and reflect a bias towards English football within the sources.
UnderThe Laws of the Game, specificallyLaw 8, goals may be scored directly from thekick-off. Some of the fastest goals on the list below are shots taken directly from kick-off.[2]
The following is a list of goals scored by any kind of players, including juniors, amateurs, semi-professionals, professionals or women, in any football league, cup or other competition around the world. At least ten seconds.
| Position | Player | Year | Match | Result | Time | Ref. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavin Stokes | 2017 | Maryhill vClydebank | 3–0 | 2.1 sec | [3][4] | This match was ajunior (non-league) match involving two teams from theWest of Scotland Super League First Division inScottish football. Distance from the halfway line was approximately 46 metres. |
| 2 | Vuk Bakic | 2012 | GSP Polet vFK Dorćol | 4–1 | 2.2 sec | [5] | This match was a junior match of the Serbian 2. League. Immediately after the referee whistled the beginning of the meeting, Vuk Bakic sent the ball into the goal. Distance from the centre and goal was approximately 50 metres. |
| 3 | Marc Burrows | 2004 | Cowes Sports Res. vEastleigh Res. | 5–3 | 2.56 sec | [6] [7] | This match was an amateur match but the record has been recognised byThe Football Association. Eye-witness reports state the goal was aided by a particularly strong following wind. |
| 4 | Cheung Sai Ho | 1993 | Portsmouth Cup | 2.8 sec | [8] | Cheung scored for the Hong Kong youth team 2.8 seconds after the start of a match in the Portsmouth Cup in 1993. It was the world record in 1993. | |
| Ricardo Olivera | 1998 | Rio Negro Capital v Soriano Interior | 1–1 | 2.8 sec | [9][10] | The goal was listed in theGuinness World Records prior to 2004. | |
| 6 | Carlos Almeida | 2011 | Oliveira do Hospital v Associação Atlética de Arganil | 3–0 | 3 sec | [11] [12] | Occurred during a match in the first tier ofCoimbra Football Association, the fourth tier of Portuguese football. |
| Megan Searson | 2016 | UoMA Maurauders v Minnesota Crookstown | 2–0 | 3 sec | [13] [14] | Fastest goal scored by a female player, occurred during a match in the NCAA. | |
| 8 | Fred | 2003 | América Mineiro vVila Nova | 1–5 | 3.17 sec | [7][15] | Fastest goal ever scored inBrazilian football. |
| 9 | Colin Cowperthwaite | 1979 | Barrow vKettering Town | 4–0 | 3.55 sec | [16] | Believed to be the fastest goal inassociation football at the time. |
| 10 | Richard Wetton | 2017 | Oakwood v Lingfield | 2–6 | 3.57 sec | [17] | Also the fastest second goal scored in a match, coming in 40 seconds. |
| 11 | Bart van der Veer | 2014 | LTC v Oeverzwaluwen | 2–4 | 3.6 sec | [18] [19] | Occurred during a match in theSaturdays 1e Klasse, the fifth tier ofDutch football and the third tier of Dutch amateur football. It was Van der Veer's last match for Oeverzwaluwen before his retirement. |
| 12 | Crios O'Hare | 2025 | Marlin Coast Rangers v Stratford Dolphins | 5–0 | 3.68 sec | [20] | Fastest goal ever scored inAustralian soccer. Occurred from the kick-off of a match in theAustralia Cup, the national cup competition of theAustralian soccer league system. |
| 13 | Damian Mori | 1995 | Adelaide City vSydney United | 2–2 | 3.69 sec | [22] [23] | According to theGuinness Book of Records,Mori held the record from 1995 to 1998 when Ricardo Olivera scored a goal in 2.8 sec. |
| 14 | Gioacchino Giardina | 2023 | Mazarese vsNissa | 2–1 | 3.81 sec | [24] | Eccellenza Sicily league game. Fastest goal in Italian football history. |
| 15 | Yael Averbuch | 2006 | North Carolina vYale Bulldogs | 4–0 | 3.9 sec | [25][26] | Goal occurred in a women's college football match. |
| 16 | Jim Fryatt | 1964 | Bradford Park Avenue vTranmere | 4–2 | 4 sec | [27] [28] [22] | According to the sources some onlookers say that this goal took closer to 10 seconds. However, there is no film evidence to contradict the assessment of the referee Bob Simons who said: "I blew my whistle for the start and still had my stopwatch in my hand when the ball entered the net. The scoring time is exactly four seconds – no question of it." |
| Gareth Morris | 2001 | Ashton United vSkelmersdale United | 4–2 | 4 sec | [29] [22] | This goal is likely to be the fastest ever scored in theFA Cup, although the lack of records dating back to the formation of the competition make this impossible to verify. | |
| Roman Voynarovskyi | 2008 | Krymteplytsia vFeniks-Illichovets | 2–2 | 4 sec | [30][31] | Scored in theFirst League (2nd tier of Ukrainian football). Fastest goal ever scored in Ukrainian professional football. | |
| Gustavo Ramírez | 2014 | Mineros de Zacatecas vClub Necaxa | 2–0 | 4 sec | [32] | Goal occurred in the first match of the season inAscenso MX. | |
| Osagie Osayande | 2024 | AC Libertas vSS Pennarossa | 2–2 | 4 sec | [33] | Goal occurred inCampionato Sammarinese di Calcio. | |
| 21 | Hadi Abdollahzadeh | 1999 | Aboomoslem v Irsotter Noshahr | 2–0 | 4.09 sec | [34] | Fastest goal ever scored inIranian Football. |
| 22 | Maria McAneny | 2025 | Hibernian vCeltic | 1–2 | 4.1 sec | [35][36] | Fastest goal ever in theScottish Women's Premier League. |
| 23 | Malcolm Macdonald | 1972 | St Johnstone vNewcastle United | 3–7 | 5 sec | [37] | Fastest goal ever scored in Newcastle United's history. Believed to be the fastestassociation football goal in history at the time. |
| Carlos Dantón Seppaquercia | 1979 | Gimnasia y Esgrima LP vHuracán | 1–1 | 5 sec | [38] | Fastest goal ever scored in theArgentine Primera División. | |
| 25 | Albert Mundy | 1958 | Aldershot Town vHartlepool United | 3–0 | 6 sec | [1][39] | Believed to be fastest goal inassociation football at the time. |
| Barrie Jones | 1962 | Notts County vTorquay United | 2–0 | 6 sec | [1] [40] [41] [42] | ||
| Keith Smith | 1964 | Crystal Palace vDerby County | 3–3 | 6 sec | [1][43] | ||
| Félix Suárez | 1976 | Alianza Lima vIndependiente Santa Fe | 4–0 | 6 sec | [44] | Fastest goal ever scored in theCopa Libertadores. | |
| Tommy Langley | 1980 | QPR vBolton Wanderers | 3–1 | 6 sec | [1][45] | ||
| Alexandros Zafeiris | 1980 | Irodotos vKifisia | 3–1 | 6 sec | [46] | Fastest goal scored in the third tier of GreekFootball League 2. | |
| Ghazi Ayadi | 2017 | Club Africain vCS Sfaxien | 2–1 | 6 sec | [47] | Fastest goal ever scored in theTunisian Super Ligue. | |
| Christoph Baumgartner | 2024 | Austria vSlovakia | 2–0 | 6 sec | [48][49] | Fastest goal ever scored in an international match. | |
| 33 | Rafael Leão | 2020 | Sassuolo vAC Milan | 1–2 | 6.2 sec | [50][51] | Fastest goal ever scored in the ItalianSerie A. |
| Dylan Allen-Hadley | 2025 | Lowestoft Town VAlvechurch | 0–4 | 6.2 sec | [52] | Scored during a semi-professional game in theSouthern Football League Premier Central Division. Lowestoft had kickoff but Alvechurch Scored | |
| 35 | Migen Memelli | 2009 | Tirana vFlamurtari Vlorë | 3–0 | 7 sec | [53] | Fastest goal ever scored in theAlbanian Superliga. |
| Ji Xiang | 2012 | Jiangsu Sainty vGuangzhou Evergrande | 1–1 | 7 sec | [54] | Fastest goal ever scored in theChinese Super League. | |
| Andreas Labropoulos | 2013 | Olympiacos vOFI | 5–1 | 7 sec | [55] | Fastest goal ever scored in theSuper League Greece. | |
| Lukas Podolski | 2013 | Germany vEcuador | 4–2 | 7 sec | [56] | ||
| Jerome Martelli | 2014 | Leyton UvDagenham & Redbridge U18 | 4–1 | 7 sec | [57] | Fastest goal ever scored in an U18Association football game. | |
| Mike Grella | 2015 | New York Red Bulls vPhiladelphia Union | 4–1 | 7 sec | [58] | Fastest goal ever scored inMajor League Soccer . | |
| Florian Wirtz | 2024 | Germany vFrance | 2–0 | 7 sec | [59][60] | ||
| 42 | Alfie Lloyd | 2023 | Eastleigh vDorking Wanderers | 4–0 | 7.12 sec | [61] | |
| 43 | Joseba Llorente | 2008 | Valladolid vEspanyol | 2–1 | 7.22 sec | [62] | Fastest goal ever scored inLa Liga. |
| 44 | Roman Yaremchuk | 2016 | Vorskla Poltava vOleksandriya | 2–2 | 7.27 sec | [63][64] | Fastest goal ever scored in theUkrainian Premier League. |
| 45 | Carlos Aguiar | 2010 | Huachipato vUniversidad de Chile | 1–2 | 7.3 sec | [65][66] | Fastest goal ever scored in theChilean Primera División. |
| 46 | Miroslav Manolov | 2012 | Cherno More Varna vMontana | 3–1 | 7.42 sec | [67] | Fastest goal ever scored inBulgarian A Football Group. |
| 47 | Seydou Keita | 2014 | Valencia vAlmería | 2–2 | 7.66 sec | [62] | |
| 48 | Shane Long | 2019 | Watford vSouthampton | 1–1 | 7.69 sec | [68] | Fastest goal ever scored in thePremier League. |
| 49 | Freddy Eastwood | 2004 | Southend United vSwansea City | 4–2 | 7.7 sec | [69] | Fastest ever debut goal. |
| 50 | Nick Barmby | 2004 | Hull City vWalsall | 3–1 | 7.8 sec | [70] | Fastest goal ever scored in the EnglishLeague One. |
| 51 | Michel Rio | 1992 | Caen vCannes | 3–1 | 7.9 sec | [71] | Fastest goal ever scored in the FrenchLigue 1. |
| 52 | Nivaldo | 1989 | Náutico vAtlético Mineiro | 3–2 | 8 sec | [72] | Fastest goal ever scored at theCampeonato Brasileiro Série A. |
| Tim Cahill | 2013 | Houston Dynamo vNew York Red Bulls | 0–3 | 8 sec | [73] | Second-fastest goal ever scored inMajor League Soccer. | |
| Zaur Sadayev | 2014 | Lech Poznań vJagiellonia Białystok | 4–2 | 8 sec | [74] | Fastest goal ever scored inPolish Cup. | |
| Tom Morgan | 2014 | Turton vLytham | 4–1 | 8 sec | [75] [76] [77] | ||
| Marco Tavares | 2017 | Maribor vDomžale | 1–0 | 8 sec | [78] | Fastest goal ever scored inSlovenian FirstLeague. | |
| Vito van Crooij | 2022 | Sparta Rotterdam vAZ Alkmaar | 2–3 | 8 sec | [79] | Fastest goal ever scored in the DutchEredivisie. | |
| 58 | Paolo Poggi | 2001 | Piacenza vFiorentina | 3–1 | 8.1 sec | [80] | Second-fastest goal ever scored in the ItalianSerie A. |
| Christian Benteke | 2016 | GibraltarvBelgium | 0–6 | 8.1 sec | [81] | Fastest goal ever scored in aFIFA World Cup qualification game. | |
| 60 | Davide Gualtieri | 1993 | San Marino vEngland | 1–7 | 8.3 sec | [56][82] | Second-fastest goal ever scored in aFIFA World Cup qualification game. |
| Kylian Mbappé | 2022 | Lille vParis SG | 1–7 | 8.3 sec | [83] | Second-fastest goal ever scored in French Ligue 1 | |
| 62 | Hisato Satō | 2006 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima vCerezo Osaka | 1–1 | 8.7 sec | [84] | Fastest goal ever scored inJ1 League. |
| 63 | Amine Azri | 2024 | Nahdat Zemamra vMaghreb Fez | 1–0 | 9 sec | [85] | Fastest goal ever scored in theBotola Pro |
| Gildo | 1965 | Palmeiras vVasco da Gama | 4–1 | 9 sec | [86] | Fastest goal ever scored at theMaracanã stadium inBrazil. | |
| Sebastián Soria | 2013 | Pakhtakor vLekhwiya | 2–2 | 9 sec | [87] | Fastest goal ever scored in theAFC Champions League. | |
| Karim Bellarabi | 2014 | Borussia Dortmund vBayer Leverkusen | 0–2 | 9 sec | [88][89] | Joint-fastest goal scored in the history of the GermanBundesliga. | |
| Kevin Volland | 2015 | 1899 Hoffenheim vBayern Munich | 1–2 | 9 sec | [90] | Joint-fastest goal scored in the history of the GermanBundesliga. | |
| Godwin Mensha | 2023 | Malavan vMes Rafsanjan | 0–4 | 9 sec | [91] | fastest goal ever scored in thePersian Gulf Pro League. | |
| 69 | Philip Billing | 2023 | Arsenal vAFC Bournemouth | 3–2 | 9.11 sec | [92] | |
| 70 | Yakou Méïté | 2020 | Blackburn Rovers vReading | 2–4 | 9.55 sec | [93] | |
| 71 | Amadou Sagna | 2019 | Senegal vTahiti | 3–0 | 9.6 sec | [94] | Fastest goal ever scored at theFIFA U-20 World Cup. |
| 72 | Ledley King | 2000 | Tottenham Hotspur vBradford City | 3–3 | 9.9 sec | [95] | Second-fastest goal ever scored in thePremier League. |
| 73 | Ben Smith | 2006 | Tamworth vWeymouth | 1–3 | 10 sec | [96][97] | |
| Gjergji Muzaka | 2006 | Partizani Tirana vApolonia Fier | 2–0 | 10 sec | [53] | ||
| Justin Meram | 2015 | Columbus Crew vNew York Red Bulls | 2–0 | 10 sec | [98] | Fastest ever goal in MLS postseason. | |
| Uroš Đurđević | 2016 | Čukarički vPartizan | 1–3 | 10 sec | [99] | Fastest goal scored in the history of theSerbian SuperLiga. | |
| Julian Kristoffersen | 2016 | FC Copenhagen U19 vLeicester City U19 | 3–2 | 10 sec | [citation needed] | UEFA Youth League | |
| Paul Onuachu | 2019 | Nigeria vEgypt | 1–0 | 10 sec | [100] | 2nd fastest international goal. | |
| 79 | Roy Makaay | 2007 | Bayern Munich vReal Madrid | 2–1 | 10.12 sec | [101] | Fastest goal inUEFA Champions League |
| 80 | Jacopo Segre | 2026 | Palermo vSpezia | 1–0 | 10.2 sec | [102] | Fastest goal ever scored in theItalian serie B. |
| 81 | Gholamreza Rezaei | 2012 | Fajr Sepasi vPersepolis | 0–2 | 10.68 sec | [103] | Second-fastest goal ever scored in thePersian Gulf Pro League. |
| 82 | Hakan Şükür | 2002 | South Korea vTurkey | 0–1 | 10.8 sec | [104] | Fastest goal in aFIFA World Cup match |
After a disappointing performance in Toronto at midweek, the New York Red Bulls returned home looking to regain their winning ways, and they did so with record-breaking swiftness.
Tim Cahill scored just eight seconds into the Red Bulls' 3–0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday – the fastest goal in MLS history
Zaur Sadayev scored a goal 8 seconds into the game. This is the fastest recorded goal in Polish soccer