Arda Güler Scores 68-Metre Goal to Equal La Liga Distance Record

By Bosphorus News Sports Desk

Arda Güler entered as a substitute for Vinícius Júnior in the 58th minute of Real Madrid's La Liga match against Elche at the Santiago Bernabéu on March 14, 2026. In the 89th minute, with the score 3-1, he received the ball near the centre circle, spotted Elche goalkeeper Matías Dituro off his line, and sent a left-footed lob 68 metres into the net. Real Madrid won 4-1. Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde and Dean Huijsen scored the other goals.

Güler's strike is the longest-range goal recorded in La Liga in at least 15 seasons, according to ESPN. Stat measurements put the distance at 68 metres, which multiple sources say ties or exceeds Antonio José's 2004 goal for Numancia against Sevilla, widely cited as the previous benchmark. La Liga has not issued an official confirmation.

It is the first goal scored from inside a player's own half at the Bernabéu since Lasa's 58-metre effort against Sevilla in 1995.

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Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV: "We should frame it and hang it on a wall. It's amazing. Wonderful. I saw everyone throw their hands up in amazement, and I did too. It was worth having paid for a ticket, or two or three, to see what he did."

Elche coach Éder Sarabia called Güler "a colossal player."

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The result moves Real Madrid to 66 points, one behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Güler joined Real Madrid from Fenerbahçe in 2023. He has scored 4 goals and registered 13 assists in 43 appearances this season.

Dituro, the goalkeeper beaten by the lob, had himself scored from approximately 90 metres playing for Bolívar against Club San José in Bolivia in 2017.