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Who is the youngest player to win a World Cup? A top 10 list
Ciku Njuguna
March 15, 2024 at 7:29 AM
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Every so often, the football world sees the rise of a young prodigy whose talent shames even the most experienced players on the field. Such traits have cemented the status of legendary players such as Pele in the world of soccer. Dig in and discover the youngest player to win a World Cup, and others throughout history.
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Table of Сontents:
Who is the youngest person to win a World Cup? Sports Brief has conducted an extensive deep dive into the history of the FIFA World Cup and its football players. Scroll down for every detail of players’ ages and their performances.
Who is the youngest player to win a World Cup?
FIFA has stipulated rules that govern and protect minors in the game. Such laws apply to the international transfers of minors and their professional contracts. However, minors or players who are yet to reach the age of 18 are not exempt from representing their countries in junior association football World Cup tournaments.
Based on Sports Brief's research of archival football information, the ages of the youngest World Cup players in winning squads range between 24 years and 27 days to 17 years, 7 months, and 23 days. Here is an extensive list of the youngest World Cup players to play for the winning international squads.
Source: Getty Images
World Cup tournament | Country | Player | Age |
1982 | Italy | Giuseppe Bergomi | 18 years 6 months 13 days |
1974 | Germany | Martin Hoffmann | 19 years 2 months 23 days |
1970 | Brazil | Marco Antônio | 19 years 4 months 4 days |
2018 | France | Kylian Mbappé | 19 years 5 months 27 days |
1950 | Uruguay | Rubén Morán | 19 years 11 months 10 days |
2002 | Brazil | Kaká | 20 years 1 month 22 days |
1934 | Italy | Felice Borel | 20 years 1 month 27 days |
2014 | Germany | Julian Draxler | 20 years 9 months 18 days |
2022 | Uruguay | Thiago Almada | 21 years 07 months 04 days |
1962 | Brazil | Pelé | 21 years 07 months 07 days |
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Who are the youngest players ever to win the World Cup?
Pele, Brazil's greatest-ever football player, began playing football at a young age. The centre-forward, who scored six goals throughout the tournament, was 17 years 7 months, and 23 days. Explore the list below and learn more about the youngest players to win a World Cup after Pele.
10. Pelé
At the age of 17, Péle became the youngest soccer player to play and score during the 1958 World Cup match against the Soviet Union. His assistance to Vavá led to Brazil's winning goal in the tournament. In 1970, the Brazilian football star played on the tournament's winning side at 21 years, 7 months, and 7 days, scoring the winning goal.
- Full name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
- Date of birth: October 23, 1940
- Date of death: December 29, 2022
- Clubs played for: Santos FC, New York Cosmos
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9. Thiago Almada
Trézéguet is a former French-Argentinian football player. The retired striker began his career in Argentina at the Club Atlético Platense. In 1998, the 20-year-old player joined the elite league of FIFA World Cup winners with his country of birth, the French National Football team.
- Full name: Thiago Ezequiel Almada
- Date of birth: April 26, 2001
- Age: 22 years old as of March 2024
- Current team: Atlanta United FC
- Clubs played for: CA Vélez Sarsfield Under-20, CA Vélez Sarsfield
Source: Getty Images
8. Julian Draxler
The number seven winger who plays for Al Ahli SC in the Qatar Stars League began his professional career at the age of 17. The right-footed winger is a product of Schalke 04 Academy and played for Germany's Under-18, Under-19, and Under-21 teams before debuting for the senior squad in May 2012 under Joachim Löw. Two years later, he was named to the 2014 World Cup squad, where he played for the winning side against Brazil in the semi-finals.
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He is one of the youngest football players to play in the Champions League. At the age of 17, he played for FC Schalke 04 against Valencia, Inter, and Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League tournament.
- Full name: Julian Draxler
- Date of birth: September 20, 1993
- Age: 30 years old as of March 2024
- Current team: Al-Ahli SC
- Clubs played for: SSV Buer 07/28 Youth, BV Rentfort Youth, FC Schalke 04, VfL Wolfsburg, Paris Saint-Germain, SL Benfica,
Source: Getty Images
7. Felice Borel
In 1934, Italian striker Felice Borel made history as one of the youngest football players of all time at the 1934 World Cup. Italy, the second World Cup winner, played the striker during the quarter-final decider against Spain.
- Full name: Felice Placido Borel
- Date of birth: Apr 5, 1914
- Date of death: February 2, 1993
- Clubs played for: Juventus FC, Torino FC, US Alessandria Calcio 1912, SSC Napoli
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6. Kaká
Kaká is a retired attacking midfielder who played for AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City SC and the Under-20, Under-21 and senior Brazilian national football teams. While he began representing his country in January 2001 at the Under-20 World Cup, he is regarded as one of the youngest players to join the senior squad during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
- Full name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
- Date of birth: April 22, 1982
- Age: 41 years old as of March 2024
- Clubs played for: São Paulo Futebol Clube, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City SC
Source: Getty Images
5. Rubén Morán
Rubén Morán is a former Uruguayan left winger who played for Club Atlético Cerro, Defensor Sporting Club and La Albiceleste. According to his Transfermarkt profile, he made two international appearances at the 1950 World Cup and the 1953 Campeonato Sudamericano.
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- Full name: Rubén Morán
- Date of birth: Aug 6, 1930
- Date of death: January 3, 1978
- Clubs played for: CA Cerro, Defensor Sporting Club
Source: Facebook
4. Kylian Mbappé
Mbappé is one of the most decorated football players of all time. The right-footed centre-forward began playing football at a young age under the tutelage of his father, Wilfred Mbappé. At the age of 15, he made his first appearance on the international stage with the Under-17s team.
Mbappe is one of the youngest players to ever score in a World Cup tournament. At the time of writing, he has received 87 caps, where he scored 53 goals.
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- Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin
- Date of birth: December 20, 1998
- Age: 25 years old as of March 2024
- Clubs played for: INF Clairefontaine Youth, AS Monaco Youth, AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain
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3. Marco Antônio
According to Marcos Antônio’s Transfermarkt profile, the central midfielder is one of the youngest players in the World Cup. At 19 years, 4 months, and 4 days, he made an appearance for Brazil on June 10, 1970, during a FIFA World Cup match against Romania.
- Full name: Marco Antônio Feliciano
- Date of birth: February 6, 1951
- Age: 73 years old as of March 2024
- Clubs played for: Fluminense FC, Clube de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Bangu Atlético Clube (RJ), Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, Fast Clube
Source: Getty Images
2. Martin Hoffmann
Martin Hoffman was a football player who represented East Germany, BSG Aktivist Gommern and 1. FC Magdeburg. At 21, he received a cap from East Germany to the 1976 Montréal Olympics.
- Full name: Martin Hoffmann
- Date of birth: March 22, 1955
- Age: 68 years old as of March 2024
- Clubs played for: FC Magdeburg Under-19, 1.FC Magdeburg
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1. Giuseppe Bergomi
Before gaining popularity as ‘The Uncle of Italian football’, Bergomi was one of the most talented players in Italy with 756 caps and 28 goals to his name. On July 5, 1982, he became the second youngest player to win the World Cup at 18 years 6 months 13 days during a match against Brazil.
- Full name: Giuseppe Raffaele Bergomi
- Date of birth: Dec 22, 1963
- Age: 60 years old as of March 2024
- Clubs played for: Inter Milan Primavera, Inter Milan
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
For football players around the world, playing, scoring and winning a World Cup tournament is the ultimate achievement. Here is a list of outstanding World Cup players of varying ages
1. Who are the youngest players to play at a World Cup?
The youngest age to play in the World Cup was recorded on the women's side in the 199 and 2023 Women's World Cup tournaments. At 16 years and 34 days, Nigerian footballer Ifeanyi Chiejine became the youngest footballer after making an appearance in 1999 against North Korea.
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At the time of writing, the youngest person to play in the Women's World Cup is South Korean forward Casey Yu-Jin Phair. She made her debut as a substitute in South Korea's campaign against Colombia at 16 years and 26 days. Check out this list of 10 of the youngest footballers to make an appearance at the World Cup.
- Pelé
- Salomon Olembé
- Femi Opabunmi
- Samuel Eto’o
- Norman Whiteside
- Bartholomew Ogbeche
- Rigobert Song
- Youssoufa Moukoko
- Garang Kuol
- Gavi
Source: Getty Images
2. Who are the youngest goal scorers in World Cup history?
Football legend Pelé was a triple threat who played, scored, and won four World Cup tournaments. Here is a list of the youngest World Cup scorers ever.
- Manuel Rosas
- Gavi
- Elena Danilova
- Michael Owen
- Lionel Messi
- Dmitry Sychev
- Martin Hoffmann
- Divock Origi
- Julian Green
- Nicolae Kovács
Source: Getty Images
3. Who is the oldest player to ever win the FIFA World Cup?
At the age of 40 years 4 months, and 13 days, Italy's Dino Zoff became the oldest World Cup winner during Italy's third run at the title in July 1982. On June 25, 2018, Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary was the oldest player to ever play in the World Cup at 45 years 5 months, and 10 days. his Cameroonian counterpart, Roger Milla, became the oldest-ever scorer in the 1994 World Cup at 42 years of age.
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Final word
Footballers typically begin training and playing professionally at a young age. Some of the soccer stars have distinguished themselves as the youngest football players to win the World Cup and other major tournaments.
Sports Brief has published an article on Denmark's national football team, its history, players, coaches, and achievements over the years. Denmark is one of the most successful football countries, with three Olympic medals and one European Championship title, among other titles. Click on the link above and discover every detail about De Rod-Hvide and everything about it.
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