Arsenal icon Lukas Podolski's record for quickest international goal shattered by Austria star Christoph Baumgartner
23/03/2024 20:54
Christoph Baumgartner has broken Lukas Podolski’s record for scoring the fastest international goal.
The RB Leipzig forward was lining up for Austria in their friendly clash with Slovakia where he made an immediate impact.
Straight from kick-off, Baumgartner picked up the ball before driving straight at the Slovakian team.
Slaloming past three different players, the 24-year-old broke through Slovakia’s midfield before closing in on the penalty area.
He then arrowed home an effort from 25-yards into the bottom left corner.
Baumgartner’s effort took just six seconds to find the net – a new record for an international goal.
That effort has broken the record previously set by Podolski during Germany’s clash with Ecuador in 2013, where he found the back of the net after seven seconds.
The former Arsenal and Bayern Munich star racked up 49 goals in 130 appearances for Germany, before hanging up his international boots following a goalscoring appearance against England in 2017.
Podolski, who won the World Cup in 2014, spent three seasons at the Emirates, where he fired in 31 goals in 82 outings in all competitions.
Having impressed since coming through the ranks at Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, Baumgartner completed a move to RB Leipzig last summer.
In that time, he has endured a frustrating time having struggled to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI – scoring just four goals all season.
That said, his record-breaking international goal will be a timely reminder to his club of just how effective he can be from the start.
Austria are preparing for Euro 2024 where they’re set to face France, Netherlands and either Wales or Poland in the group stages.
