Euro 2024 sets tone for fastest goals ever scored
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 match between Georgia and Portugal.
These Euros have proven it's a wiser call to stock up on beverages and snacks before the opening whistle. If not, there's a good chance you could miss a goal being scored within the opening few minutes.
On Wednesday, for example, Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stunned Portugal when he blitzed past three defenders on the left wing and slid a shot past Diogo Costa to give Georgia a 1-0 lead within 92 seconds.
The goal was among the five fastest goals ever scored in the Euros, three of which have been scored at Euro 2024. Earlier in the event, Albania's Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in Euro history when he capitalized on Italian Federico Dimarco's misplaced throw-in to convert at the 23-second mark. Belgium's Youri Tielemans hit the third-fastest mark with his 73-second strike against Romania.
Interestingly, nine of the 10 fastest Euro goals have been scored in the 21st century, save for the 1988 Euros when Soviet Union's Sergei Aleinikov scored at the 2:07 mark against England.
Conversely, Euro 2024 has also produced the most second-half stoppage-time goals with eight, proving that the games have been as riveting at the tail end.
- Emre Can (Germany): 90 + 3' versus Scotland
- Breel Embolo (Switzerland): 90 + 3' versus Hungary
- Kerem Akturkoglu (Turkey): 90 + 7' versus Georgia
- Francisco Conceicao (Portugal): 90 + 2' versus Czechia
- Klaus Gjasula (Albania): 90 + 4' versus Croatia
- Luka Jovic (Serbia): 90 + 5' versus Slovenia
- Niclas Fullkrug (Germany): 90 + 5' versus Switzerland
- Kevin Csoboth (Hungary): 90 + 10' versus Hungary (most belated goal ever)
Euro 2008 and Euro 2016 previously held the record for most belated goals with seven apiece. Euro 2024 eclipsed that mark even before the knockout stages.
The excitement levels reach a fever pitch Saturday as the Round of 16 games kick off with defending champions Italy against Switzerland and hosts Germany against Denmark.
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