Austria's Christoph Baumgartner set a new record for the fastest goal in international soccer in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia.
Just six seconds after kick-off, the 24-year-old sprinted from the center circle, fended off three challenges and fired a low shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.
The away section erupted in celebration at Bratislava's Teherne Poğlu Stadium, while the Slovakian home fans looked on in disbelief.
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The timing of Baumgartner's goal was better than Germany's Lukas Podolski, who scored just seven seconds later against Ecuador in 2013.
Podolski, who played for Arsenal and Bayern Munich, made 130 appearances for Germany and scored 49 goals.
Podolski spent three seasons with Arsenal, winning the FA Cup in 2013-14. He made 82 appearances for the North London side, scoring 31 goals.
Meanwhile, Baumgartner is a midfielder who plays for German club RB Leipzig. He joins from Hoffenheim and signs a five-year contract in June 2023.
He has appeared in 34 games for the Austrian national team.
Christoph Baumgartner: 6 seconds 🇦🇹
Florian Wirtz: 7 seconds 🇩🇪The fastest goal in international football history and one of the fastest goals ever recorded were both scored yesterday 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HB7Qdi8F4G
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 24, 2024
On a night of quick goals, Florian Wirtz set a new record for Germany by scoring seven seconds into the game against France, a few hundredths of a second faster than Podolski in 2013.
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Wirtz was assisted in his goal by Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who was making his first appearance for Germany three years after announcing his retirement from international football.
The goal was the first for Wirtz, a rising star in European football at the age of 20, for his country and helped them defeat France 2-0.
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(Christian Hofer/Getty Images)
