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It took just 15 seconds for this Mexico player to make history

It was less than a minute into El Tri’s final group stage match against Sweden on Wednesday when Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo made World Cup history. The game had barely kicked off when the fullback, who plays his club soccer for Monterrey, put in a lunging challenge on Sweden striker Ola Toivonen.

Argentine referee Nestor Pitana adjudged the challenge to be a foul and awarded a free kick to Sweden. Gallardo meanwhile, was shown a yellow card. And this is where history was made.

When the yellow card was shown to Gallardo, there were just 15 seconds on the clock, setting a new record for the fastest yellow card ever in a World Cup match.

The previous record for a booking in a World Cup match was set at the 1986 World Cup when Uruguay defender Jose Alberto Batista picked up a red card playing against host nation Mexico after just 54 seconds.

Not sure if congratulations are in order here, but win or lose, Gallardo has now etched his name into the World Cup history books, courtesy of clattering recklessly into Toivonen.

Mexico’s defender Jesus Gallardo is shown a yellow card by Argentine referee Hernan Maidana during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Mexico and Sweden at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 27, 2018. (Getty Images)
Mexico’s defender Jesus Gallardo is shown a yellow card by Argentine referee Hernan Maidana during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Mexico and Sweden at the Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg on June 27, 2018. (Getty Images)

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