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Hakan Şükür had a successful international career representing Türkiye. In 112 appearances, the striker scored 51 times. One of those goals remains the fastest to be scored at a World Cup.
Şükür played in only one World Cup, which came in 2002 in Japan and South Korea. That tournament saw Türkiye make a run to the semifinals before falling to Brazil 1-0.
Their final game of the 2002 World Cup was the third-place match against hosts South Korea, which also had an unexpected showing during the tournament. It was in that game that Şükür scored his only World Cup goal and he did not wait long to achieve it.
After only 10.8 seconds, Şükür put Türkiye ahead 1-0 en route to a 3-2 victory and the country's best showing at its second-ever World Cup.
10.8 seconds! 😱⚡️#OTD in 2002, Hakan Sukur scored the fastest goal in #FIFAWorldCup history! 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/1thH26qWTw
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 18, 2024
South Korea kicked off the match and the ball was passed back deep in their midfield. When Hong Myung-bo misplayed a pass at the back, İlhan Mansız attacked and forced a turnover, which landed at Şükür's feet. The Türkiye captain then slid his shot under goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae for a very early lead.
“We really wanted to get the medals, but I also really wanted to score,” Şükür said. “Scoring in the World Cup is something very special, and I hadn’t managed to do so. Everyone was talking about it. It all happened so quickly. It was a feeling of relief, of great joy. I went home having scored a World Cup goal and with a medal.”
Şükür broke the record of 16 seconds previously held by Václav Mašek when he scored in the 1962 World Cup for Czechoslovakia against Mexico.
