Football
ESPN staff 7y

Christian Benteke nets fastest international goal in 8.1 seconds

Belgium's Christian Benteke set a new record for the fastest goal in the history of competitive international football when he scored after 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar in a World Cup qualifier on Monday.

FIFA has confirmed the goal broke the previous fastest mark of 8.3 seconds set by San Marino's Davide Gualtieri against England in another World Cup qualifier in 1993.

Benteke's feat was even more impressive because Gibraltar started with the ball in the centre circle.

The hosts, playing in Portugal because their stadium does not meet FIFA standards, played the ball backwards from the kickoff to Jamie Bosio, who then tried to pass across to a teammate.

But Benteke, the Crystal Palace striker, intercepted the pass and ran into the box before putting a shot past goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim.

"[Belgium's] goal was to hurry up for the first 20 minutes," Benteke told told RTBF. "The defender anticipates wrong, I passed him and I do not ask questions.

"I feel good in recent weeks. I want to keep moving forward."

FIFA only changed the rule allowing the kickoff to go backward earlier this year, beginning at the European Championship.

Benteke added two more goals in the game as Belgium went on to win 6-0.

"It would have been a little different if I had scored a hat- rick against a big team," Benteke said. "But I will not spit in the soup. I'll take the hat trick. I'll try to prolong my current form and continue it with my club.

"I do not think I'm the hero of the game. The most important thing was to have fun."

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said Benteke deserved to set the record after a lot of hard work.

"That goal really showed the concentration of the group," Martinez said of the opener. "It was our goal to score early and we were rewarded quickly with a world record.

"In football, it's good to make history. Christian has worked very hard, especially defensively. He had a complicated preseason with the change of clubs [from Liverpool to Crystal Palace], but now he finds his shape."

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