Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner set a new record for the fastest goal in international football during a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday.
Just six seconds after the kick-off, the 24-year-old sprinted from the centre circle, evaded three challenges, and unleashed a low shot from outside the box into the bottom corner.
The away section erupted in celebration at the Tehelne pole stadium in Bratislava, while Slovakia’s home fans watched in disbelief.
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The timing of Baumgartner’s goal beat Lukas Podolski’s for Germany against Ecuador in 2013, where he found the back of the net after just seven seconds.
Podolski, who played for both Arsenal and Bayern Munich, featured 130 times for Germany and scored 49 goals.
Podolski spent three seasons at Arsenal, where he won the FA Cup in 2013-14. He scored 31 goals in 82 appearances for the north London side.
Baumgartner, meanwhile, is a midfielder who plays for German club RB Leipzig. He signed a five-year contract in June 2023, having joined from Hoffenheim.
He has been capped on 34 occasions for Austria.
(Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
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