PLAYING in a World Cup is an achievement in itself, but to score on the biggest stage of all takes real character.
We’ll be taking a look at a few brave teenagers who stepped up to the plate and scored for their country.
Jude Bellingham is likely to be the youngest player in the England camp this year, and the 19-year-old could write himself into the history books with a goal in Qatar.
There are a few names on this list you may recognise.
Who is the youngest player to score at a World Cup?
To score over one thousand goals in your career, Pele had to get started early. The Brazilian takes top spot and is the only player under 18 to score, and the fifth-youngest player in the tournament’s history.
He didn’t just net once, but five times at the 1958 World Cup, leaving him second-top goalscorer at that year’s competition.
Mexico’s Manuel Rosas is next on the list, scoring a brace in the first ever World Cup in 1930.
The defender broke a less fortunate record a few days earlier, becoming the youngest player to score an own goal at the tournament.
Michael Owen takes the bronze medal, scoring in the group stages against Romania during the 1988 World Cup.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker remains the only teenager to score for England at this level.
A familiar face is sixth on the list. Lionel Messi came on as a substitute to score Argentina’s sixth against Serbia and Montonegro at the 2006 World Cup.
He has since gone on to score five more, with his eyes set on more goals at Qatar.
Here are the top 5:
- Pele (17 years, 239 days) – 1958
- Manuel Rosas (18 years, 93 days) – 1930
- Michael Owen (18 years, 190 days) – 1988
- Nicolae Kovacs (18 years, 197 days) – 1930
- Dmitry Sychev (18 years, 231 days) – 2002
