Garang Kuol: Australia Winger of South Sudan Descent Sets World Cup Record

• Garang Kuol becomes the second youngest player to play in the knockout stage of the World Cup
• The South Sundanese-Australian achieved the feat after coming on in the second half of the game against Argentina
• He joins Pele who holds the record as the youngest to play at the knock stage of the World Cup

Australia winger Garang Kuol has become the youngest player to play at the knockout stage of the World Cup since Brazilian legend Pele.

At 18 years and 79 days, Kuol came on in the second half as the Socceroos suffered a narrow defeat to a Messi inspired Argentina side.

The teen sensation, who is on his way to join English topflight side Newcastle United, nearly gave Australia an equalizer but was denied by the brilliant Emi Martinez.

According to Opta Johan, Kuol is only behind Pele who played in the knockout stage at the age of 17 years and 249 days in 1958.

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Kuol is enjoying a meteoric rise to his career since making his senior debut for Central Coast Marines in 2021.

The player born to South Sudanese parents in Egypt moved to Australia with his family as refugees at an early age.

Meanwhile, Messi and Julian Alvarez scored for Argentina as they stood the test of the Aussies.

Argentina will next face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.

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Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Lionel Messi produced a moment of trademark quality to score the opener in a 2-1 win over Australia and send Argentina into the quarter-finals of the World Cup on Saturday.

Messi's 789th goal in his 1,000th career appearance -- but first in the knockout rounds of the World Cup -- helped set up a last-eight clash with the unbeaten Netherlands on Friday.

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Julian Alvarez scored the other in the 57th minute after some calamitous Australian defending, before Enzo Fernandez's 77th-minute own goal set up an unexpectedly nervy finale.

Garang Kuol becomes youngest Australian to play at the World Cup

Garang Kuol's fairytale story continued at the grandest stage when he came on as a second half substitute in Australia's game against France at the World Cup in Qatar.

The teen sensation who was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents before his family flee to Australia became the youngest player to play for the Socceroos at the World Cup.

He achieved the feat at 18 years, 68 days. Kuol replaced Craig Goodwin in the 73rd minute but it was too late for Australia as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to the world champions.