Ranking the 20 Fastest Goals in Champions League History

It was eight years ago on March 7 that ex-Bayern Munich forward Roy Makaay scored a Champions League opener against Real Madrid in little over 10 seconds, a goal which remains the tournament's quickest ever.

Makaay isn't the only star to have shown extreme initiative in Europe's premier competition, however, with a long line of quickfire goals having taken place since the Champions League's introduction in 1992.

We've scanned the continental archives to unearth the 20 fastest goals ever netted in the Champions League (including qualification rounds), which have then been ranked in accordance with a number of criteria.

Makaay sets a lofty bar in terms of just how swiftly a team can expect to make their impact. Read on to find out if speed alone is enough to take spot in our rundown of the fastest Champions League finishes ever.

Official Timings and Rank Criteria

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Official Timings

It's worth noting that in some cases, and particularly for certain qualification matches involving smaller clubs, official goal times aren't as readily available as in the cases of higher-profile teams.

The official UEFA website has been used as a reference for timings where possible, with numerous media outlets and video evidence accounting for other cases.

Rank Criteria

Speed is an alluring factor in any goal, but "the faster the better" isn't a rule that applies in this countdown.

Some of those entries included herein are an example of how "Route One" football can be most effective, while others manage to maintain some air of finesse.

Just because a goal is quick does not make it superior to a slightly slower score, with style and flair just some of the factors—in addition to speed—taken into account when forming the order of this list.

Honourable Mention: Paolo Maldini, Milan 3-3 Liverpool AET

Time: 51.00 seconds

Date: May 25, 2005

It may not have been quick enough to make it into the top 20, but the evergreen Paolo Maldini deserves a mention on this list as record-holder for the fastest goal ever bagged in a Champions League final.

Less than a minute was played in Istanbul before Milan got their 2005 crescendo against Liverpool off to a stellar start, with the left-back volleying in a superbly curled Andrea Pirlo assist.

If ever there were an example of scoring too early being an actual inhibitor, this might have to be it, as the Reds would famously come back to draw 3-3 and triumph on penalties after extra time.

20. Pavel Nedved, Lazio 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Time: 42.13 seconds

Date: Oct. 27, 1999

Early pressure in Lazio's first group-stage encounter against Bayer Leverkusen during the 1999-2000 campaign saw the Italians win an abnormally quick corner in Rome.

Taking full advantage of the set piece through a blend of great delivery and woeful front-post defending, Pavel Nedved was fortunate enough to get the final touch on the ball, firing into Adam Matysek's net after less than 45 seconds.

Juventus great Nedved assuredly won't remember the strike as the most glamorous of his success-laden career, but it proved crucial as Lazio drew 2-2 before exiting that year's tournament to Valencia in the quarters.

19. Mariano Bombarda, Willem II 3-4 Sparta Prague

Time: 28.21 seconds

Date: Oct. 20, 1999

Just a week prior to Nedved's aforementioned moment of initiative, Mariano Bombarda gave Dutch side Willem II their own swift start to a Champions League encounter with Sparta Prague.

It was the Czech representatives who would ultimately win the end-to-end group-stage clash 4-3, but a Bombarda header ensured Willem II at least gave themselves a chance in the tie.

Ultimately, the Eredivisie side failed to win a single pool game and missed out on the second group phase, standing as evidence that a fine start counts for naught without some substance and maintained threat behind it.

18. Christian Gimenez, Basel 1-3 Manchester United

Time: 31.24 seconds

Date: Nov. 26, 2002

Football or pinball? Christian Gimenez displayed terrific reactions to send Basel into a shock lead when they came up against Manchester United in the 2002-03 season, although some might call his prod fortunate.

Lucky or not, the Argentinian took full advantage of the positioning offered to him via a Hakan Yakin corner, and all that was needed was the slightest toe-poke to open the scoring. Just over 30 seconds was all the Swiss titans needed to win said corner and send their troops up en masse.

However, Basel couldn't keep up their assault and slumped to a 3-1 defeat against the hardy Red Devils. It would be a pivotal result, too, as they finished level on points with Juventus and Deportivo La Coruna in their group, missing out on qualification for the next stage.

17. Diogo Rincon, Dynamo Kiev 3-1 Fenerbahce

Time: 24.00 seconds

Date: Aug. 9, 2006

Twenty-four seconds was all it took for Brazilian forward Diogo Rincon to give Dynamo Kiev an explosive start in their hopes of moving past Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round of their 2006-07 Champions League campaign.

The Ukrainians would go on to triumph 3-1 in the first leg and win 5-3 on aggregate, progression thanks in large part to Rincon's forward thinking right from the first whistle.

The forward showed a brilliant touch and great vision to tee up Serhiy Rebrov for an early attempt at goal but was justly rewarded himself after guiding the rebound home having followed up his run into Fenerbahce's box.

16. David Alaba, Bayern Munich 2-0 Juventus

Time: 24.18 seconds

Date: April 3, 2013

One does not simply beat a goalkeeping icon such as Gianluigi Buffon from range, never mind doing so after a mere 24 seconds of play during a Champions League quarter-final collision.

So it was just as well Bayern Munich utility man David Alaba had the slight help of an Arturo Vidal deflection when shooting from 30 yards out to give Der FCB a most opportune lead in their first-leg meeting.

Alaba's strike may well have been higher on our list were it not for the intervention of Vidal's toe, but that diversion of the ball's flight takes away much of the goal's sparkle, albeit none of its impact.

The Austrian's score was part of the European campaign that saw Bayern dominate as without doubt the best team in the world during that period, eventually claiming the 2012-13 Champions League title.

15. Jonas, Valencia 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Time: 10.96 seconds

Date: Nov. 1, 2011

The second-fastest goal ever scored in Champions League competition was more a display of how not to defend more than a demonstration of how a team should properly attack.

Bayer Leverkusen stopper Bernd Leno had a moment to forget with less than 10 seconds on the clock, his only excuse being that Valencia's Jonas momentarily resembled a team-mate from just 25 yards away.

Los Che's forward was only too happy to lap up the opportunity and ghost through on goal and convert from distance, although it was by no means the most difficult of chances.

14. Andreas Moller, Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Juventus

Time: 37.48 seconds

Date: Sept. 13, 1995

Having left Turin barely 12 months prior to the 1995 clash, Andreas Moller would have held mixed emotions upon seeing Borussia Dortmund drawn against former club Juventus in that year's Champions League.

And despite Angelo Peruzzi's reputation as one of Italy's greatest goalkeepers, Moller showed no hesitation upon his reunion with his former team-mate, unleashing a hellish strike past the Juve No. 1 with barely 35 seconds played at the Westfalenstadion.

Some might debate that Peruzzi could have done better than getting a mere fingertip on the ball, but it wouldn't matter as the Bianconeri went on to win 3-1 in Germany and top Group C.

In an almost fate-like twist of circumstances, Moller would later win the Champions League with Dortmund in 1997, dishing Juve their own 3-1 defeat in that season's final to earn his revenge.

13. Alexis Alexoudis, Panathinaikos 2-0 Aalborg

Time: 28.46 seconds

Date: Nov. 22, 1995

In the group stage of the 1995-96 Champions League, Aalborg's Erik Bo Andersen scored a seventh-minute goal against Panathinaikos to aid the Danes in staging a 2-1 victory over their Greek guests.

Rather than dwell on that loss, however, the Greens merely decided to upstage their opponents and go one better in the return fixture, scoring in under 30 seconds to claim a 2-0 win back in Athens.

Alexis Alexoudis was the man in the right place at the right time to slide in under Aalborg's radar—quite literally so.

12. Gilberto Silva, PSV Eindhoven 0-4 Arsenal

Time: 20.07 seconds

Date: Sept. 25, 2002

Following his heroics at that year's World Cup, Gilberto Silva completed a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2002 and quickly made his presence felt in the club's Champions League pursuit.

En route to a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven, the Brazilian bagged his first Champions League goal after just 20 seconds, and who else but Gunners dynamo Thierry Henry would be playing the role of string-puller?

Henry himself scored twice against the Dutch giants, but it was a win laid on the foundations of Gilberto's first-time finish as Arsenal went from their own half into celebrations without pause for rest.

11. Deco, Porto 3-1 Molde

Time: 29.88 seconds

Date: Oct. 26, 1999

Standing at 5'9", it wasn't all too often that Deco's heading prowess proved his most illustrious quality, but Norwegian outfit Molde felt the full extent of what time and space will allow even those pint-sized stars.

Then at Porto, the Portuguese playmaker found himself unmarked bearing down on Morten Bakke's goal, sending the Dragons on their way to a 3-1 group-stage victory.

Ljubinko Drulovic deserves full credit for his spotting of Deco and quality of the curling ball sent on to his team-mate's head, but Molde neglected to pick up a figure who was never one to forgive such mistakes.

10. Mark van Bommel, Barcelona 5-0 Panathinaikos

Time: 39.56 seconds

Date: Nov. 2, 2005

November 2, 2005 will be most fondly remembered by Barcelona fans as the night Lionel Messi recorded his first Champions League goal, but it was also a noteworthy evening for veteran Mark van Bommel.

Despite there being a devastating trio of Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho up front, it was the Dutchman who found himself scything through Panathinaikos' back line and scoring in under 40 seconds.

It was the start of a rout for the Blaugrana, as Van Bommel's proved to be the first of five Barcelona goals in an unanswered victory, his delicate lob over Mario Galinovic possessing a unique quality on this countdown.

9. Marek Kincl, Club Brugge 3-2 Rapid Vienna

Time: 25.20 seconds

Date: Nov. 2, 2005

On the same night that Van Bommel made his aforementioned dent against Panathinaikos, Rapid Vienna striker Marek Kincl put his side in front against Club Brugge with a startlingly quick goal of his own.

At the time, Kincl's 25th-second bullet ranked as the fourth-fastest Champions League goal of all time and still holds a prestigious place at seventh in that order.

Rumour has it some are still wondering where right-back Gunther Vanaudenaerde was when allowing Matthias Dollinger to pick out Kincl for the cross, but the diving finish in itself is something to behold.

8. Vratislav Lokvenc, Sparta Prague 5-2 Spartak Moscow

Time: 42.58 seconds

Date: Nov. 3, 1999

Before he was pulling the strings at Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, Tomas Rosicky was one of countless Czech talents emerging from the ranks of Sparta Prague, helping the club net their quickest Champions League goal.

His surge into the Spartak Moscow half was a show of the catalytic qualities he possessed in his younger days, threading through a delightful ball for Vratislav Lokvenc to convert in their 1999 group-stage clash with the Russians.

It was Lokvenc's first of two that evening and Rosicky even got on the scoresheet himself after just 11 minutes, but the midfielder's ability to draw defenders before making them pay was in sweet motion on this occasion.

7. Jack Wilshere, Arsenal 2-0 Marseille

Time: 29.56 seconds

Date: Nov. 26, 2013

Jack Wilshere is something of an enigma in football, a prodigy whose chronic injury troubles have been sandwiched between moments of genuine wizardry and less memorable instances.

It was during a group meeting against Marseille in the 2013-14 Champions League that the England international showcased a divine example of the former under 30 seconds into the fixture.

Wilshere isn't necessarily renowned for his finishing ability, but whatever he does have in his locker was certainly on show that evening, cutting inside the French team's defence before sizzling home a most sumptuous shot.

Steve Mandanda oddly seemed to pull away from saving the effort, presumably of the assumption it was going wide, such was the whip on Wilshere's effort. 

6. Clarence Seedorf, Schalke 2-2 Milan

Time:  21.06 seconds

Date: Sept. 28, 2005

As a player, Clarence Seedorf always possessed a knack for attempting the outrageous, except they may not have been considered all that outrageous in his mind thanks to the extreme skill he possessed.

Nevertheless, to us mere mortals, goals such as the 21st-second one scored against Schalke in 2005 were brilliant to witness, the work of an inspired individual who knew exactly what he was attempting.

Some of the entries on this list take advantage of poor defending or similarly bad positioning, but sheer initiative convinced Seedorf to let loose against the Miners from long range, reaping the benefits of his own audacity.

Admittedly, Schalke stopper Frank Rost may consider himself at fault for letting the goal slip by, but then it's not every match one would assume such cannons to be coming your way with barely 20 seconds on the clock.

5. Alessandro Del Piero, Manchester United 3-2 Juventus

Time: 20.12 seconds

Date: Oct. 1, 1997

There were a couple of memorable matchups between Manchester United and Juventus in the late 1990s, one of the less recognised of which would be the 1997 group-stage clash at Old Trafford.

With Roy Keane not fit to play, Sir Alex Ferguson's side succumbed to an early Alessandro Del Piero strike, as the diminutive Italian displayed all the wiry technique that made him such a wonder.

Coming to the Theatre of Dreams and with defenders bearing down, most players would panic and be happy to get a shot away—but not Del Piero.

Edging out Gilberto's previously mentioned goal by just five hundredths of a second, the Juve forward turned inside terrifically before slotting into an open goal—coolness personified.

4. Alexandre Pato, Barcelona 2-2 Milan

Time: 24.97 seconds

Date: Sept. 13, 2011

There was a time when so much was expected of Alexandre Pato's development as a potential Milan superstar, and it was moments like this that inspired such talk of future greatness.

Against a team such as Barcelona, an outfit that thrives on possession, it's essential any period of play on the ball your side does enjoy is capitalised upon. Pato did just that less than 25 seconds after kicking off against the Spaniards during a 2011 encounter at the Camp Nou.

Pace was the key, as the Brazilian picked up the ball in an awkward position on halfway with his back to goal, but Dani Alves' jerked run forward gifted him the space to scythe down upon Victor Valdes' goal.

As if the run itself wasn't enough, Pato added insult to injury by nutmegging Valdes and eventually helping his team claim a morale-boosting 2-2 draw at Barca, the reigning champions at the time.

To this day, Pato's strike remains the fastest goal scored on Matchday 1 of a Champions League campaign.

3. Dejan Stankovic, Inter 2-5 Schalke

Time: 25.54 seconds

Date: April 5, 2011

Halfway-line goals are a difficult quantity to judge in football; it's hard to know where the line is drawn between pure luck and genuine finesse, changing on a case-by-case basis.

However, there was no such debate to be had when Dejan Stankovic punished a hopeful Manuel Neuer clearance by thrusting past the Schalke goalkeeper from just inside the opponents' half.

The Inter midfielder's strike was oozing with sheer technique as he whipped the volley low and hard from huge range, although the Nerazzurri went on to lose the quarter-final first leg 5-2.

2. Roy Makaay, Bayern Munich 2-1 Real Madrid

Time: 10.12 seconds

Date: March 7, 2007

Makaay's record-holding strike is only good enough for a runners-up place on our list, although it does hold a certain prestige as the best strike based purely on quick ball transition.

The old cliche goes that Germans—and by extension, German football teams—are renowned for their efficiency, in this case getting from Point A to Point B without wasting any time.

As brilliant as he was in his prime, Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos couldn't have picked a worse time to let his touch go missing, gifting Hasan Salihamidzic a run down Los Merengues' right flank.

The Bayern winger found Makaay in space and the rest, as we'll inevitably say, is history. The finish gave Bayern the first of two goals in their 2-1 second-leg victory, overturning the 3-2 defeat suffered in Madrid a fortnight earlier and seeing them through to the 2006-07 quarter-finals.

1. Andy van der Meyde, Roma 1-1 Ajax

Time: 35.06 seconds

Date: March 19, 2003

It may be alumni of the Netherlands national team who are regarded as the inventors of "Total Football," but Ajax showed their own brand of team mechanics en route to scoring the best quickfire goal in Champions League history.

Lining up against Roma in a a second group-stage tie in March 2003, the Godenzonen showed us a little bit of everything from your standard, hopefully lofted ball forward to some finer touches from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maxwell.

In the end, though, Andy van der Meyde's cut inside from the right before rasping a stinging shot into the top corner is very much the centrepiece of this attack, which sent the Stadio Olimpico into a state of shock.

Just 35 seconds into the match and Van der Meyde attempted something many might not have the courage to do at their most settled. Better still, it produced a goal he'll likely cherish for the rest of his days.

One can only wonder how often Ibrahimovic has been lured into reacting so feverishly to a goal that didn't come from his own boot.