Adalbert Desu took only 50 seconds to fire Romania ahead against Peru at Uruguay 1930. It remains the quickest goal a team have scored on their World Cup debut. Romania are followed by Türkiye (Suat Mamat after two minutes in 1954), Portugal (Jose Augusto after two minutes in 1966, and Chile (Carlos Vidal after three minutes in 1930).
It was a miracle that Romania even appeared at the first World Cup. King Carol II assumed the throne only 35 days before it kicked off, made it his foremost priority to get them entered, and somehow succeeded.
Romania docked in Montevideo following a 16-day journey by ship. A few days later, Desu briskly broke the deadlock en route to a 3-1 win over Peru. It sits joint-ninth of the fastest goals in World Cup history.
