The Fastest World Cup Final Goal

The 1974 World Cup final began with an extraordinary statement from the Netherlands. Against West Germany, the Dutch passed the ball from kick-off before Johan Cruyff burst into the penalty area and was fouled. Johan Neeskens converted the resulting penalty before the West Germans had even touched the ball, giving the Netherlands an astonishing early lead. The hosts recovered to win 2–1, but that opening sequence became one of the most replayed moments in World Cup history. It seemed to capture the boldness and technical confidence associated with Dutch 'Total Football'. A final that had barely started already contained a moment for the history books, proving that a match does not need long to become unforgettable.