These guys were ready to score on the big stage!
Yussuf Poulsen made history on June 17 by scoring one of the fastest goals in UEFA Euro history against Belgium. His early goal gave Denmark the lead and allowed them to dominate the Belgians for the first half-hour of the match. After him, in this edition of the Euro itself, the fastest goal in the history of the tournament came from Nedim Bajrami from Albania against Italy. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at this list.
The 25-year-old provided England with an electric start by scoring a thunderous volley just 117 seconds into the Euro 2020 final. Luke Shaw received a cross from Kieran Trippier and found the back of the net with his first touch, beating Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and igniting celebrations at Wembley. Shaw's goal, coming in just one minute and 57 seconds, also stands as the fastest goal scored in a UEFA Euro final, surpassing Chus Pereda’s sixth-minute strike for Spain in the 1964 European Nations Cup final against the Soviet Union. Interestingly, Shaw is also the first Manchester United player to score in a European Championship final. This goal marks his maiden strike for the Three Lions in 16 appearances.
In the 2016 edition, Poland's talisman, Robert Lewandowski, scored against Rui Patricio just one minute and forty seconds after kickoff. After being scoreless in Poland's first four matches, Lewandowski netted in just 100 seconds against Portugal, converting a delivery from Kamil Grosicki on the left. However, his record was short-lived. Renato Sanches equalised before halftime, and the game eventually went to penalties, where Poland lost 5-3 in the shootout.
After an emotionally challenging loss to Finland, Yussuf Poulsen gave Denmark the lead just 99 seconds into their 2020 match against Belgium. Poulsen seized a loose ball off Denayer and sent it past Thibaut Courtois to put Denmark ahead. The Danes' early intensity and the goal allowed them to dominate the first half. However, Denmark eventually succumbed to a 1-2 defeat as Kevin De Bruyne tore through their defence with a goal and an assist.
Swedish winger Emil Forsberg opened the scoring against Poland in his team's third UEFA Euro 2020 group stage match on June 23. It took the 29-year-old just 84 seconds to score. This goal marked Forsberg's third goal in his last four matches for Sweden across all competitions. It was also the second fastest goal in the history of the UEFA European Championships, following Dmitri Kirichenko's strike against Greece in UEFA Euro 2004.
Dmitri Kirichenko's goal after just a minute against eventual winners Greece in the 2004 Euros remains the fastest goal in the history of the tournament. Despite Kirichenko's early strike, the Muscovite state side couldn't avoid defeat, falling 2-1 at full-time. This result led to Moscow crashing out of the group stage with consecutive defeats in the tournament. Despite their promising start, including Kirichenko's historic goal, Muscovite state’s inability to secure points in subsequent matches proved costly, ending their Euro 2004 campaign prematurely and highlighting the tournament's unpredictability and intensity on the European stage.
In the 2024 edition, Albania's Nedim Bajrami made history by scoring a goal just 23 seconds into their match against Italy, setting a new record for the fastest goal ever scored at the Men’s European Championship finals. Bajrami's early strike stunned Italy and highlighted Albania's determination in the tournament, marking a memorable moment in European football history.
While the fastest goal is not always the most effective goal when it comes to having a competitive mental edge, it raises the stakes much higher for the opposing team!
