The ultimate opener: The exclusive club of players who scored the first goal at the World Cup
As we prepare for the 23rd edition of the FIFA men’s World Cup, we take a look back at the opening scorer in all 22 previous tournaments.
World Cup 1930 – Laurent becomes the first goalscorer
France’s Lucien Laurent made history as the scorer of the very first goal in FIFA World Cup history. The diminutive forward - who stood just 5ft 4in tall and could also line up in midfield - was born on December 10, 1907, in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Val-de-Marne. Laurent struck in the 19th minute of France’s match against Mexico, a game Les Bleus would go on to win 4-1. The venue was the now-defunct Estadio Pocitos in Montevideo. Laurent passed away in 2005 in Besançon, at the age of 97.
World Cup 1934 Belis – an Argentine amateur
The first goal of the 1934 World Cup was scored by Argentina’s Ernesto Belis, in the third minute of a match Sweden would eventually win 3-1. For that tournament, Argentina traveled to Italy with an amateur squad, as clubs refused to release professional players. They played just one game - this one against Sweden.
World Cup 1938 – Gauchel vs resilient Switzerland
Germany’s Josef Gauchel scored the first goal of the 1938 World Cup, in the 29th minute of a 1-1 draw with Switzerland. The Swiss equalized through Abegglen, but the Germans would advance after winning the replay in extra time.
World Cup 1950 – Brazil opens through Ademir
It took until the fourth edition of the tournament - and a 12-year gap caused by World War II - for a Brazilian player to score the opening goal of a World Cup. That came in 1950, courtesy of Ademir de Menezes. The striker found the net around the 30-minute mark in Brazil’s 4-0 win over Mexico.
World Cup 1954 - Milutinović for Yugoslavia
The first goal of the 1954 World Cup was scored by Yugoslavia’s Miloš Milutinović, in the 15th minute of a 1-0 victory over France.
World Cup 1958 – Corbatta for Argentina
Argentina’s Oreste Corbatta scored the first goal of the 1958 World Cup, just two minutes into a match against West Germany. Argentina, however, would go on to lose 3-1 to the Germans.
World Cup 1962 – Facundo strikes early
The first goal of the 1962 World Cup came from Argentina’s Héctor Facundo in the third minute of a 1-0 win over Bulgaria. Facundo finished off an attacking move with a right-footed strike. The match was officiated by Spain’s Juan Gardeázabal. Interestingly, four matches were played simultaneously that day - May 30, 1962 - and a total of 10 goals were scored.
World Cup 1966 – Pelé beats Held to it
Brazil’s Pelé scored the first goal of the 1966 World Cup, in the 14th minute of a 2-0 win over Bulgaria, curling in a direct free kick. Notably, he beat Germany’s Siggi Held by a matter of seconds; Held opened the scoring in the Germans’ 5-0 win over Switzerland, in the 15th minute.
World Cup 1970 – Bulgaria executes a set piece
The tournament began with a 0-0 draw between Mexico and the Soviet Union, before Bulgaria’s Dinko Dermendzhiev opened up the 1970 World Cup’s goal tally via a clever set piece against Peru: a free kick just outside the box that was neatly worked and finished in the 13th minute. The Peruvians would rally to win 3-2.
World Cup 1974 – Breitner the sharpshooter
After Brazil and Yugoslavia played out a scoreless opener, West Germany Paul Breitner unleashed a rocket with his right foot. The midfielder scored from distance in the 18th minute of West Germany’s match against Chile, opening the scoring in the 1974 World Cup. Nicknamed “The Abyssinian” during his time at Real Madrid, Breitner saw his shot fly like a missile past goalkeeper Leopoldo Vallejos.
World Cup 1978 – Lacombe nets inside a minute
As in 1970 and 1974, the first goal of the 1978 World Cup didn’t come in the tournament’s opening match. West Germany and Poland played to a scoreless draw. It wasn’t until the second game that France’s Bernard Lacombe struck - heading home a pinpoint cross from Didier Six just 31 seconds in. Italy would come back to win 2-1. Lacombe’s goal remains the sixth fastest in World Cup history.
World Cup 1982 – Vandenbergh stuns Maradona
Spain hosted the 12th World Cup. The opening match featured defending champion Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, against Belgium at Barcelona’s Camp Nou following the opening ceremony. Belgian forward Erwin Vandenbergh scored the game’s only goal in the 62nd minute, controlling with his chest before firing a powerful cross-shot past Ubaldo Fillol.
World Cup 1986 – Altobelli on target… but Italians denied
A set-piece move delivered the first goal of the 1986 World Cup: Antonio Di Gennaro’s ball was met at the far post by Italy teammate Alessandro Altobelli, completely unmarked, in the 43rd minute. The Italians’ looked set to carry on the momentum from their 1982 triumph, but Bulgaria equalized five minutes from time through Nasko Sirakov to make it 1-1.
World Cup 1990 – Cameroon shocks Argentina
One of the great World Cup upsets: an African side defeating the defending champions. Cameroon beat Argentina thanks to a 67th-minute header from François Omam-Biyik. The effort was aided by goalkeeper Nery Pumpido, who mistimed his attempt to claim the ball; it struck near his leg, deflected off his knee, and rolled into the net.
World Cup 1994 – Klinsmann takes it off Hässler’s toes
Just when it seemed Thomas Hässler would score the tournament’s first goal, teammate Jürgen Klinsmann stole the moment. A long ball caught Bolivia’s defense off guard; Hässler controlled it with a deft touch that caused goalkeeper Carlos Trucco to stumble, leaving the net wide open. Klinsmann pounced, taking the ball and finishing in the 16th minute.
World Cup 1998 – Sampaio with his shoulder
In the fourth minute of a 2–1 win over Scotland, Brazil’s César Sampaio scored the first goal of France 1998, turning a corner-kick delivery in with his shoulder. Ironically, Sampaio also conceded the penalty that led to Scotland’s equalizer.
World Cup 2002 – Bouba Diop upsets France
Echoing 1990, an African nation stunned the reigning champions. In the first World Cup co-hosted by two countries - South Korea and Japan - Senegal edged France 1–0 in Seoul. Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop scored in the 29th minute, capitalizing on a brilliant play by El Hadji Diouf. After Sylvain Wiltord failed to clear and Fabien Barthez made an initial save, Diop buried the rebound. It was the game’s only goal.
World Cup 2006 – Lahm’s thunderbolt
A fierce right-footed strike from Germany’s Philipp Lahm opened the scoring in the 2006 World Cup. The fullback curled a stunning effort into the net in the sixth minute past Costa Rica goalkeeper José Porras. Germany would go on to win 4-2.
World Cup 2010 – Tshabalala at Africa’s first World Cup
South Africa’s Siphiwe Tshabalala etched his name in history by scoring the first goal of the 2010 World Cup - the first held on African soil. He unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot in the 55th minute in a 1-1 draw with Mexico, in front of 84,490 fans at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
World Cup 2014 – Marcelo’s own goal
The first goal of the 2014 World Cup was an own goal by Brazil’s Marcelo in the 10th minute of what became a 3-1 win over Croatia. It was the first own goal ever scored in a World Cup opening match. Marcelo turned in a low cross from Ivica Olić after David Luiz failed to clear.
World Cup 2018 – Gazinskyi heads in for the hosts
Russia’s Yuri Gazinskyi scored the first goal of the 2018 World Cup, in the 12th minute of a 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The midfielder powered home a header from a superb cross by Roman Zobnin, beating goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf to the ball.
World Cup 2022 – Valencia from the spot
The opening match of the Qatar World Cup saw the host nation face Ecuador, with the South Americans winning 2-0. Enner Valencia put Ecuador ahead from the penalty spot in the 16th minute, then added a second in the 31st to secure all three points.
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