Didier Six and the Curious Case of Footballers Scoring in the Same Minute as Their Surname

The Guardian Sport · 2026-10-28
Didier Six and the Curious Case of Footballers Scoring in the Same Minute as Their Surname

In a delightful quirk of football trivia, The Knowledge investigates whether any player has scored in the exact minute matching their surname. The question was sparked by Justin Seven-Seven, who netted in the 77th minute for West Brom Under-21s against Sutton United in the National League Cup. The most famous example is Didier Six, the former French international and Aston Villa winger, who scored several sixth-minute goals during his career. These include strikes for Valenciennes against Nancy in the 1975-76 Coupe de France, for Lens against Bordeaux in Ligue 1, and for VfB Stuttgart against Karlsruher in the Bundesliga. The phenomenon highlights the playful intersections between player names and match statistics, a niche but beloved topic for football enthusiasts. While rare, such coincidences capture the imagination and remind us that football is full of unexpected stories. The Knowledge continues to welcome more examples from readers worldwide.