The European Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the football landscape. Just like other football tournaments, there are players who have etched their name one way or another in the illustrious history of this football competition. Early goals have the power to define the outcome of a football match and have a significant impact on both individual players and teams.
The 17th edition of the European Championship (EURO 2024) is ongoing at the moment as it has seen more players join the ranks of those who have made their mark with early goals. Four of the 10 fastest goals ever scored in the history of the EUROs have been scored at the ongoing EURO 2024. Here, we look at the top 10 fastest goals in European Championship history.
10. Robbie Brady – 2 minutes, 0 seconds
Robbie Brady drew first blood for the Republic of Ireland in their round of 16 clash with France in EURO 2016 just after two minutes as he converted his penalty kick. Paul Pogba fouled Shane Long in the 18-yard box, leading to the award of the spot kick.
However, it was France who came out victorious in this match, as Antoine Griezmann overturned the game in the second half as he scored two goals in four minutes to give his side a 2-1 victory, which saw them progress to the quarterfinals.
9. Luke Shaw – 1 minute, 56 seconds
Luke Shaw gave England the dream start in another heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat for the Three Lions in the EURO 2020 final. Gareth Southgate’s men started the contest strongly, as Kieran Trippier’s cross found Shaw unmarked in the box, who then volleyed low into the net with Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded.
The goal is not only one of the fastest goals to be scored in the EUROs, but also the fastest goal ever to be scored in a European Championship final.
Gli Azzurri, however, restored parity in the 66th minute via Leonardo Bonucci to force the game into extra time and then a penalty shootout. England, however, fell short once again in the penalty shootout as Italy claimed their second European Championship trophy.
8. Robert Lewandowski – 1 minute, 40 seconds
Poland’s talisman, Robert Lewandowski, put his side in front with the fastest goal of EURO 2016 in just 100 seconds when they clashed with a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal in the quarterfinals.
Portugal’s right-back, Cédric Soares, miscalculated a cross from Łukasz Piszczek, which allowed Kamil Grosicki to break into space on the left flank and send in a low cross for Lewandowski to convert with a first-time shot.
Poland, however, could not hold on to their lead as Renato Sanches put his side back on level terms in the 33rd minute. After Portugal’s equalizer, neither side was able to find the back of the net for the rest of the game, and it was Portugal that progressed after a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout.
7. Yussuf Poulsen – 1 minute, 39 seconds
Denmark got off to a flying start in their second game of EURO 2020 after suffering a shocking 1-0 defeat against Finland in the opening match. That match was largely remembered for Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the pitch.
The game’s first major incident occurred within the opening two minutes when Belgian defender Jason Denayer committed a horrendous error of judgment, inadvertently passing the ball directly to opposing midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
The Tottenham man played in Yussuf Poulsen who gave Denmark the lead with a clinical finish. Timed officially at 1:39. As of when the goal was scored, it was the second-quickest goal in the history of the EUROs after Dmitry Kirichenko’s strike for Russia against Greece at Euro 2004.
However, Belgium came back to win the match in the second half as Kevin De Bruyne inspired his side to victory.
6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 1 minute, 34 seconds
In a much-needed win match to qualify for the knockout stages of EURO 2024, debutants Georgia made a blistering start with a breakthrough within two minutes. António Silva’s loose pass was intercepted by Georges Mikautadze.
The Georgian striker then made a precise pass into the path of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who successfully scored by shooting past the approaching goalkeeper, Diogo Costa.
The debutants doubled their lead in the second as Mikautadze slotted home from the spot to secure his side’s qualification.
5. Emil Forsberg – 1 minute, 22 seconds
Emil Forsberg etched his name in the history books when Sweden took on Poland in the final group stage game of EURO 2020. The 32-year-old found the back of the net just 82 seconds into the game after Alexander Isak gave him a backheel pass at the edge of the box.
Prior to that game, Yussuf Poulsen’s early goal against Belgium was the fastest goal of EURO 2020, but the honour fell back to Emil Forsberg after he scored 17 seconds less.
4. Youri Tielemans – 1 minute, 13 seconds
After an odd-defying defeat in their EURO 2024 opener, Youri Tielemans gave Belgium the much-needed boost to blow Group E wide open. Tielemans put his side ahead in just 73 seconds into the game as Romelu Lukaku held up the ball with his back to goal before rolling it into his path to rifle it home past Florin Niță.
3. Dmitri Kirichenko – 1 minute, 7 seconds
Dmitri Kirichenko opened the scoring after 67 seconds in Russia’s consolation victory over eventual tournament winners Greece in their last match of the group stages of EURO 2004. Prior to the match, they were already confirmed eliminated from the competition after back-to-back losses against Spain and Portugal.
Kirichenko made sure his side did not exit the competition goalless and without any point, as he pounced on a loose ball and fired home to give his side the lead. Dmitri Bulykin doubled Russia’s lead in the 17th minute to secure the victory, while Zisis Vryzas scored a consolation goal for Greece in the 43rd minute.
2. Merih Demiral – 0 minute, 57 seconds
Merih Demiral’s goal after 57 seconds against Austria in the round of 16 of EURO 2024 is the fastest ever goal scored in the knockout rounds at the European Championship and the second fastest goal in the competition’s history.
The Al-Ahli center-back made history after Arda Güler’s corner in the opening minute caused a pinball in the Austrian defence before Patrick Pentz scooped the ball to Merih Demiral, who rifled the loose ball into the roof of the net to give Turkey the lead.
1. Nedim Bajrami – 0 minute, 23 seconds
The fastest goal in the history of the European Championship (EUROs) was scored by Nedim Bajrami after 23 seconds as he latched onto a catastrophic throw-in from Federico Dimarco and lashed the ball home at the near post.
Defending champions, Italy, however, spoiled Nedim Bajrami’s record-breaking party as they came from behind and won the match as Alessandro Bastoni leveled the tie in the 11th minute while Nicolò Barella gave Gli Azzurri the lead in the 18th minute. Italy held on to win 2-1.