Sixty-four seconds. That’s all Matías Galarza needed to etch his name into World Cup history. The 24-year-old Paraguayan midfielder scored the fastest goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup during Paraguay’s Group D clash against Turkey on June 19, earning himself the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award in the process.

For a country that hadn’t appeared on the World Cup stage since 2010, that kind of opening statement carries weight.

A 64-second redemption arc

Paraguay entered the Turkey match reeling from a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the United States in their tournament opener. When Galarza buried the ball in the net barely a minute into the second match, the goal gave Paraguay an early lead at exactly the moment they needed one.

From Olimpia to the World Cup spotlight

Galarza’s path to this moment has been anything but a straight line. The central midfielder has bounced through several clubs across South America, including stints at Olimpia, Vasco da Gama, and Talleres, before landing at Atlanta United on loan from Argentine giants River Plate.

Michelob Ultra is the official beer partner of MLS. On the international front, Galarza has been representing Paraguay since making his debut in 2022, accumulating 14 caps heading into the tournament.

Paraguay’s long road back

The broader story here is Paraguay’s return to the World Cup after a 16-year absence. The last time this country competed at the tournament was South Africa 2010.

His loan situation at Atlanta United adds another variable. River Plate holds his contract, meaning any future move likely runs through Buenos Aires first.

The Michelob Ultra Player of the Match award reflects the beer brand’s positioning as official MLS sponsor and its visibility during FIFA’s flagship event. The player award format ensures that individual brand moments get amplified across social media and broadcast coverage.