What is the Fastest Goal in Champions League History? A Look Back at the Competition’s Quickest Strikes

Santiago Gimenez scored against Feyenoord after just 37 seconds for AC Milan in the Champions League, but it isn’t the fastest goal in the competition’s history.

In the UEFA Champions League, a lightning-fast goal is a thrilling spectacle for football fans. It sets the tone for a match, energising the team and fans alike, and often goes down as a moment to be remembered.

Santiago Gimenez’s recent 37-second strike for AC Milan against his former club Feyenoord has sparked renewed interest in the fastest goals ever scored in the illustrious competition.

What a start for Milan!

Former Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez scores after just 37 seconds to make it 1-1 on aggregate.#UCL

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Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the quickest goals in Champions League history.

Fastest Goals in Champions League History

5) Clarence Seedorf – 21.06 seconds (Schalke 2-2 Milan, Sep 2005)

Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf had an iconic Champions League career and etched his name in the history books with an early strike for AC Milan in 2005 – the 3rd fastest scored at the time.

During a group-stage encounter with Schalke, Seedorf capitalised on a defensive lapse, firing a long-range shot past the goalkeeper from 30 yards.

The ball squirmed underneath Schalke’s Frank Rost, giving Milan a lightning-fast lead.

4) Alessandro Del Piero – 20.12 seconds (Man Utd 3-2 Juventus, Oct 1997)

Another Champions League icon, Alessandro Del Piero, scored one of the quickest goals in the competition’s history at Old Trafford in 1997.

The Juventus forward produced a moment of individual brilliance, latching onto a through ball and leaving Manchester United’s defence in his wake.

After a quick feint, he calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, giving Juventus an early advantage in a thrilling group-stage clash.

3) Gilberto Silva – 20.07 seconds (Porto 0-4 Arsenal, Sep 2002)

Defensive midfielder Gilberto Silva surprised many with his quick thinking in Arsenal’s 4-0 victory over Porto in the 2002 Champions League group stage.

A clever cut-back from Thierry Henry allowed the Brazilian midfielder to guide the ball into the net, scoring one of the fastest goals ever in the competition.

The goal not only set the tone for the match but also marked a successful debut European campaign for Gilberto, who had joined Arsenal after winning the 2002 World Cup with Brazil.

2) Jonas – 10.96 seconds (Valencia 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen, Nov 2011)

In second place is Brazilian forward Jonas, who scored an astonishingly quick goal for Valencia against Bayer Leverkusen in 2011.

The strike came after an unfortunate mistake from then-Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who mis-kicked the ball directly to Jonas.

The Brazilian kept his composure and curled the ball past Leno into the bottom corner, helping Valencia secure a 3-1 win in the group stage.

1) Roy Makaay – 10.12 seconds (Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid, Mar 2007)

The fastest goal in Champions League history remains Roy Makaay’s strike for Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the 2007 Round of 16.

Makaay’s goal, scored just 10.12 seconds into the match, still stands as a record.

The goal was made possible by a defensive error from Roberto Carlos, whose loose touch allowed Bayern’s Hasan Salihamidzic to steal the ball and quickly pass it to Makaay.

The Dutch forward then finished coolly with a first-time shot that left Real Madrid’s defence in disarray and put Bayern on track for a crucial victory.