The world of football has seen many young talents emerge every year from the shadows. Players are representing their countries in their teens and without any experience are scoring fearless to make name for themselves and their nation.
There are players like Messi and Mbappe who have represented their respective countries at the young age of nineteen. Kylian Mbappe won a FIFA World cup in his teens to earn a name for himself.
However, there are also many players who did not come much into the limelight but are among the youngest World Cup goalscorers In the world. Let’s take a look at the top 5 youngest goalscorers in World Cup history.
5. Dimitri Sychev
One of the greatest players from Russia, Dimitri Sychev was a speed demon and his agility on the field was unrivaled by anyone. He was the Footballer of the year in Russia when he won the Russian Premier League in 2004.
The 2002 World Cup saw the appearance of this young man representing his nation Russia. He was then the youngest player ever for Russia to play in a World Cup match. He also scored his first World Cup goal and became the fourth youngest to ever score a goal in a World Cup. He was just 18 years and 222 days old when he achieved this feat.
4. Nicolae Kovacs
One of the greatest players from the time when football was just starting, Nicolae appeared in the 1930 world Cup for the first time when he was 18 years old. He also appeared in the 1934 and 1938 World Cup later in his career.
Fifa World Cup records show that there were only five players to appear for all three World Cups prior to the World War. He was just 18 years and 198 days old when he scored his first World Cup goals against Peru on 14th July 1930. He primarily played for the Romanian national team but was a Hungarian hence he also played for Hungary in the final stages of his career.
3. Michael Owen
Ballon d’Or winner of the 2001 season, Michael Owen is one of the most successful players of all time. He has played in various big-shot clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Real Madrid in his career. However, most of his fame is from his time in Liverpool where the player contributed for 8 years.
Having been born in Chester, Owen played for the England national football team his entire career. He became the youngest player to ever play the World Cup for England. He also scored a goal in the 1998 FIFA World Cup to become the youngest player to score a goal in World Cup for England. Owen was only 18 years and 190 days old when he achieved this feat.
2. Manuel Rosas
The very first player to ever score a penalty in the FIFA World Cup was none other than Manuel Rosas Sanchez. He was the youngest player to play in the 1930 FIFA World Cup representing Mexico.
He is also the second youngest player to ever score a goal in the FIFA World Cup. He was just 18 years and 93 days old when he scored his first World Cup goal.
1. Pele
Football in Brazil today is the way it is because of the contribution of a legendary player who was born in this country. Pele is the youngest player to play in the finals of a World Cup.
He was just 17 years and 239 days old when he first scored a goal in the 1958 World Cup match against Wales. Pele scored a hattrick in the semi-final of the same World Cup and is also the youngest player to score a hattrick in a World Cup match.
The 1958 World Cup was nothing but just a start of a new era dominated by this young man. He lifted two more World Cups in 1962 and 1970. He is the only player in the history of football to lift three world Cups in their career.
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