Celtic’s 21-year-old Scottish midfielder, Maria McAneny, has been officially awarded a Guinness World Record for scoring the fastest goal ever in women’s football, taking just 4.10 seconds. This historic moment occurred on December 22, 2025, during a Scottish Women’s Premier League match against reigning champions Hibernian.
The goal was scored straight from the kick-off, with McAneny launching a spectacular shot from the halfway line that flew over the opposing goalkeeper, leaving the Hibernian team stunned. Celtic ultimately won the match 2-1.
Recognized as the fastest goal in professional women’s football, the achievement was officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records this week. McAneny revealed that the shot wasn’t a planned move, but an impulsive decision.
“There was a Plan B,” she stated, “but I told Saoirse I was just going to go for it, and thankfully it went in. It’s a great feeling, and it’s definitely not an accomplishment I ever thought I’d have. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, to be fair.”
Beyond this record-breaking goal, Maria McAneny has been a key contributor for Celtic this season, with 13 goals and five assists. She has also been called up for international duty with Scotland and is expected to feature in next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belgium.