Content reviewed: 2026-09-12
Tom King’s 96.01-metre goal is an authenticated record. Guinness lists Thomas King, Newport County at Cheltenham Town, Jonny-Rocks Stadium, 19 January 2021. Its category is the longest goal in a competitive football match, not a World Cup record.
It began as a goal kick. In his next-day club interview, King described an intended pass helped by wind and a bounce. Calling it a deliberately aimed 96-metre shot would go beyond his account.
Nor was it a match-winning goal. The manager’s interview records King scoring within the opening 12 minutes and Matty Blair equalizing before half-time: 1–1. The spectacular moment and the final result are different facts.
Guinness published its confirmation on 21 January 2021, comparing the previous 91.9-metre record set by Asmir Begovic in 2013. The goal date and confirmation-publication date should not be confused. That report also links the club’s footage.
The public record page still listed King and 96.01 metres when checked for this update, but warns that changes may not appear online immediately. It verifies the recorded achievement; it cannot guarantee that no newer result awaits publication. Neither a video angle nor this illustration establishes measurement precision.
If you came looking for 2026 World Cup information, check the year and competition: this clip belongs to an English league match in 2021.