What is the fastest goal in Serie A history? Inside the moment that stunned the world

The Italian top-flight league, Serie A, established in 1898, is one of the oldest football leagues in the world. Throughout its more than 100-year history, the league has seen many goals scored in extremely short moments after kickoff. In this article, goaloomobi.com answers the question: What is the fastest goal in Serie A history?

What is the fastest goal in Serie A history?

List updated as of April 2026.

5. 10 seconds - Tullio Ghersetich - Como 1-2 Fiorentina (January 18, 1953)

The first goal on this list appeared more than 70 years ago, in 1953. It was also the opening goal of the match, scored just 10 seconds after kickoff. Immediately following the referee’s whistle, Fiorentina launched a quick and direct attacking move. The ball was rapidly played forward, and Tullio Ghersetich, operating as a winger, positioned himself perfectly to fire a shot past the Como goalkeeper just 10 seconds into the match.

This goal stood as the fastest in Serie A history for 35 years. The record was eventually broken in 1988 by Gianfranco Matteoli of Inter Milan with a time of 9.9 seconds. However, it remains the fastest goal ever scored by a Fiorentina player in Italy’s top division. For Ghersetich, although his career was not as prominent as many others, this goal secured his place in Serie A history.

4. 9.90 seconds - Gianfranco Matteoli - Inter Milan 1-0 Cesena (November 27, 1988)

This goal broke Tullio Ghersetich’s long-standing record by just 0.1 seconds. Right after kickoff, Inter launched a fast attack through the middle. The ball was quickly moved to Matteoli, who, from just outside the penalty area, struck decisively to beat the Cesena goalkeeper. The entire sequence, from the first touch at the center circle to the ball hitting the net, lasted only 9.9 seconds.

By 1988, timekeeping methods were far more accurate than in earlier decades, making the record widely accepted. Notably, Matteoli was not a striker but a playmaker, serving as the central figure in Inter Milan’s system. He played a key role in the team that won the Scudetto in the 1988/89 season under coach Giovanni Trapattoni, achieving a record points total.

3. 9.10 seconds - Marco Branca - Udinese 4-0 Fiorentina (January 10, 1993)

Five years after Matteoli set the record, Marco Branca surpassed it while playing for Udinese in 1993. Immediately after kickoff, Udinese executed a direct attacking move toward the Fiorentina goal. Branca, showing excellent positioning, rushed into the penalty area and finished with a quick shot that caught the defense completely off guard.

This early goal gave Udinese momentum, and they went on to dominate the match, winning 4-0. It was one of their most impressive victories of that season. Marco Branca later became a well-known figure, playing for several major clubs such as Sampdoria, Roma, and Inter Milan. After retiring, he also gained recognition as Inter’s Technical Director, contributing to the squad that achieved the historic treble in 2010.

2. 8.10 seconds - Paolo Poggi - Fiorentina 1-3 Piacenza (December 2, 2001)

Eight years after Branca’s record, Paolo Poggi set a new one. From kickoff, Piacenza immediately pushed forward. Dario Hübner made a slight touch before delivering a precise long pass behind Fiorentina’s defense. Poggi controlled the ball and struck a powerful volley past goalkeeper Francesco Toldo before he could react.

This extremely early goal played a key role in Piacenza’s 3-1 away victory. The result helped the club stabilize its position in the middle of the table. That season, Piacenza surprised many by successfully avoiding relegation and finishing 12th, with the Poggi–Hübner partnership standing out as a major strength.

1. 6.76 seconds - Rafael Leão - Sassuolo 1-2 AC Milan (December 20, 2020)

The fastest goal in Serie A history belongs to Portuguese forward Rafael Leão. As soon as the match began, six AC Milan players surged forward into the opposition half. Hakan Çalhanoğlu received the ball from Brahim Díaz, made a quick run, and delivered a precise through pass to Leão. The striker calmly finished with a diagonal shot, beating goalkeeper Andrea Consigli.

This goal opened the scoring and contributed to Milan’s 2-1 victory. Thanks to important wins like this, AC Milan finished the first half of the season at the top of the table, earning the title of “Winter Champions.” Although they were later overtaken by Inter Milan and finished second, this campaign marked Milan’s return to the UEFA Champions League after seven years.

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