There was talk Hakan Sukur would be dropped for the third-place play-off at Korea/Japan 2002. If Türkiye had sizzled, their legendary striker had stuttered, going eight hours and 22 minutes without a goal at his first global finals. Senol Gunes nevertheless kept faith with his 30-year-old captain, and Sukur responded after only 11 seconds with the fastest goal in World Cup history. Türkiye, bizarrely, hadn’t even kicked off. Korea Republic passed it back from the centre spot and Ilhan Mansiz pounced, robbing Hong Myungbo and knocking it to Sukur, who took a touch and beat goalkeeper Lee Woonjae. It put Türkiye en route to a thrilling 3-2 victory and bronze.
Sukur is followed on the quickest-goals list by Czechoslovakia’s Vaclav Masek (15 seconds in 1962), Germany’s Ernest Lehner (25 seconds in 1934), England’s Bryan Robson (28 seconds in 1982), and USA’s Clint Dempsey (30 seconds in 2014).
Sources: FIFA Official
