Polish Teen's 13-Second Goal Breaks FC Porto Record and Honors Grieving Teammate

Sports
Young footballer in Porto uniform celebrating after scoring, stadium crowd in background
Published 2h ago

FC Porto's €8M Polish teenager Oskar Pietuszewski just etched his name into the club's record books—and did so with a tribute that transcended sport. The 17-year-old winger scored the fastest goal in FC Porto history, netting just 13 seconds into Friday's home match against Arouca, then lifted his shirt to reveal the name of teammate Borja Sainz, whose mother passed away this week.

Why This Matters

Record-breaking strike: Pietuszewski's 13-second goal ties Ljubinko Drulović's 1995 club record and is now the quickest ever at Estádio do Dragão.

Emotional tribute: The goal celebration honored Sainz, who traveled to Spain for his mother's funeral and missed the match.

Rising talent: Pietuszewski becomes the youngest FC Porto player to set a scoring speed record in the modern era.

The sequence unfolded with clinical efficiency. From kickoff, the ball traveled back to goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who launched a long clearance forward. Danish defender Victor Froholdt controlled the ball, then sent a diagonal shot toward the far post. Pietuszewski, positioned perfectly at the second post, connected—albeit awkwardly—and the ball crossed the line. The referee initially disallowed the effort, but VAR reviewed the play and match official Iancu Vasilica validated the goal.

What followed spoke to the bonds within the squad. Pietuszewski pulled up his jersey to display a shirt bearing the name of Borja Sainz, the Spanish winger whose mother, Maria Begoña Egusquiza, died on Thursday, February 26. FC Porto confirmed the death and extended condolences to the family. Sainz had been in Spain since Monday, and funeral services were held Friday afternoon in Bilbao, his hometown in the Basque Country. Manager Francesco Farioli described the past few days as "anything but easy" for the player, who was unavailable for the Arouca fixture.

Breaking the Speed Record

Pietuszewski's strike didn't just set a personal milestone—it rewrote the Estádio do Dragão history books. The previous fastest goal by a Porto player at the venue belonged to Brazilian winger Galeno, who scored 18 seconds into a match against Rio Ave in August 2024. Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga had also held the season's fastest home goal at 25 seconds against Nice.

Across all FC Porto matches—home and away, past and present—only one player shares Pietuszewski's 13-second mark: Serbian forward Ljubinko Drulović, who achieved the feat on February 19, 1995, against Vitória de Setúbal at the old Estádio das Antas. That record has stood for more than three decades.

Who Is Oskar Pietuszewski?

Born in Białystok, Poland, on May 20, 2008, Pietuszewski joins FC Porto as one of Europe's most promising young talents. The Portuguese club signed the winger on January 7, 2026, for an initial €8M, with add-ons potentially raising the fee to €10M. The deal includes a €60M release clause. Porto beat out competition from Atlético Madrid and other European clubs, making Pietuszewski the most expensive under-18 player ever to join the Portuguese league.

The teenager is known for his pace and technical ability, qualities that caught the attention of top European clubs during the transfer window. At just 17, he represents the kind of high-potential prospect that Porto has built its recent strategy around.

Impact on FC Porto's Season

Pietuszewski debuted for Porto on January 18, 2026, coming off the bench in a 1-0 win over Vitória de Guimarães—a match in which he was fouled for a penalty. Friday's goal against Arouca was his first for the club and came in Matchday 24 of the Liga Portugal 2025-26 season. Porto won the match 3-1, consolidating their position in the title race.

For fans and analysts in Portugal, the signing represents a strategic shift: Porto is investing heavily in teenage prospects from emerging markets, betting on high-upside talent rather than established names. The €8M outlay for a 17-year-old is significant in the context of Portuguese club finances, but the €60M clause suggests Porto views him as a potential marquee sale in two to three years—a model the club has relied on for decades.

What This Means for Residents

Ticket demand: Expect increased interest in home matches as curiosity builds around Pietuszewski's performances. Secondary market prices for Estádio do Dragão seats may tick upward.

Youth academy narrative: The signing underscores a shift toward external recruitment of teenage talent rather than relying solely on the Olival academy pipeline.

Merchandising: Jersey number 77 sales are likely to spike among younger fans, particularly in Porto's growing international supporter base.

The emotional dimension of Friday's celebration also resonated. Borja Sainz, a fellow winger, has been with Porto since rejoining the club structure in recent seasons. His absence for personal reasons was widely understood, and Pietuszewski's tribute was met with applause from the Estádio do Dragão crowd. Manager Francesco Farioli praised the squad's cohesion in his post-match remarks, noting that the team had rallied around Sainz during a difficult week.

Historical Context

Record-breaking goals have long held a special place in Portuguese football lore. The 13-second strike places Pietuszewski alongside Drulović, a Yugoslav-era forward who remains a cult figure among older Porto supporters. Drulović's goal came in the Primeira Divisão era, before the league rebranded as Liga Portugal.

In the modern VAR era, rapid goals often face additional scrutiny. Pietuszewski's effort was initially flagged, but video review confirmed that all players were onside and the ball had fully crossed the line. The use of VAR in this instance highlights how technology has changed the tempo of early-game decisions, allowing officials to validate or overturn split-second calls that in previous decades would have stood unchallenged.

FC Porto currently sit in contention for the Liga Portugal title, with the season entering its final stretch. Friday's victory over Arouca keeps them within striking distance of leaders, and the emergence of a teenager capable of scoring history-making goals adds a fresh narrative to the club's campaign.

Pietuszewski now wears the number 77 shirt—a number with no particular historical weight at Porto, but one that may gain cult status if the Polish winger continues to deliver moments of brilliance. For now, he is the youngest player to hold an individual speed record at the club, and his tribute to a grieving teammate has earned him respect far beyond the pitch.

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