Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian international, reportedly found the net within three seconds of entering a match. If confirmed, it would rank among the fastest substitute goals in professional soccer history.
Lukaku’s reputation for scoring quickly off the bench isn’t new. Back in 2021, he famously netted a goal just 32 seconds after coming on as a substitute for Inter Milan.
More recently, on February 28, 2026, Lukaku scored a 96th-minute winner for Napoli against Hellas Verona after being introduced as a substitute.
The Belgian has amassed 90 international goals for his country as of June 2, 2026. That tally makes him Belgium’s all-time leading scorer.
A substitute typically jogs onto the pitch, orients themselves, and tries to get involved in the flow of play. The idea that Lukaku managed to receive the ball, identify an opportunity, and finish, all within three seconds of his feet touching the grass, defies conventional understanding of how soccer substitutions work.
