He doesn't know it yet, but Ryan Hall may have scored the fastest goal in football history.
By deceiving the Cockfosters goalkeeper, the former professional player, aged 36, certainly left his mark.
On the commitment, the player from Croydon FC (9th division) opened the scoring after 2.31 seconds, after the start of the semi-final of the London FA Senior Trophy, a regional cup in Greater London.
We've finally got a video of Ryan Hall scoring @Croydon_FC's first goal against @CockfostersDev in the London Senior Trophy.
The goal was timed at 2.31 seconds, which we understand to be the fastest goal in senior football in the world.Can you confirm @GWR?
pic.twitter.com/anxzAtpuZC
— Croydon FC (@Croydon_FC) February 18, 2024
The club from the London suburbs, which plays in the Southern Counties East Football League, has received a huge spotlight, which necessarily goes beyond qualifying for the final of a regional amateur level cup.
Former player of Crystal Palace and especially Leeds, in the Championship, the 2nd English division, Ryan Hall was interviewed by the English media, who praised him as being the fastest scorer in history.
In the post of the video of Hall's goal on success.
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The positive exposure for Croydon continues!
Ryan Hall on Sky Sports News this morning, talking about THAT goal!
#RecordBreaker #CroydonFC pic.twitter.com/ylek7Mr91l
— SCEFL (@SCEFLeague) February 20, 2024
Officially, Guinness World Records attributes the record for the fastest goal to Uruguayan player Ricardo Olivera.
The Soriano striker scored after 2.8 seconds on December 26, 1998 against Rio Negro (1-1).
Initially announced at 1.8 seconds, the GWR validated the goal at 2.8 seconds according to video proof.
Ryan Hall can therefore potentially become the author of the fastest goal in history.
A title also claimed by the Saudi Nawaf Al-Abed, who found the net in 2.4 seconds on November 7, 2009, in the Saudi Arabian Cup with his club Al-Hilal against Al-Shoalah.
But the record had not been officially approved, since Fifa did not recognize the match due to an irregular number of players over 21 years old fielded by Al-Hilal.
Another player would have set the absolute record in this area, however.
On April 10, 2017, in an amateur West of Scotland Super League First Division match, Maryhill player Gavin Stokes reportedly beat the Clydebank goalkeeper in just 2.1 seconds.
A record that has always been contested, and which remained unofficial for the late Gavin Stokes, who died of a car accident in 2022 when he was only 30 years old.
All of these goals have one thing in common.
They were all registered from the start, with a heavy direct strike.
With outside help, as Marc Burrows, another quick scorer, told the Guardian in 2004: “The wind was so strong I thought it was worth the detour.
The ball went over their poor goalkeeper.
I was so stunned that I didn't really celebrate.
I just threw my hands in the air and burst out laughing.
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The five fastest goals in history
1. Gavin Stokes (Maryhill), April 8, 2017, West of Scotland Super League First Division against Clydebank (3-0) in 2.1 seconds.
2. Ryan Hall (Croydon FC), February 17, 2024, 1/2 final of the London FA Senior Trophy against Cockfosters (3-0) in 2.31 seconds.
3. Nawaf Al-Abed (Al-Hilal FC), November 7, 2009, Saudi Arabia Cup against Al Shoalah (4-0) in 2.4 seconds.
4. Marc Burrows (Cowes Sports), April 3, 2004, Wessex League First Division against Eastleigh (5-3) in 2.5 seconds.
5. Ricardo Olivera (Soriano), December 26, 1998, Uruguay championship against Rio Negro (1-1) in 2.8 seconds (record approved by Guinness World Records).