Youngest footballers to score in FIFA World Cup - Gavi enters top five

The FIFA World Cup is every footballer’s ultimate dream and to not just make it to the tournament as a teenager, but also to score a goal for your country is indeed a priceless achievement. 

Spanish teenage sensation Gavi got his name on the scoresheet against Costa Rica during their group stage game at the FIFA World Cup 2022, becoming the youngest player from his country to score at this tournament. 

Gavi, who was aged 18 years and 110 days when he scored against Costa Rica, is still not the youngest player to have scored in the world's biggest football tournament. 

Brazilian legend Pele, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, takes that record to his credit and is also the only footballer to have scored under the age of 18. 

Youngest to score in FIFA World Cup

Pele (Brazil) - 17 years, 239 days

Among a host of legendary achievements in Pele’s career, the one that ranks higher than others is the fact that he scored in a World Cup final at the age of 17. 

In the 1958 World Cup final between Brazil and hosts Sweden, the South American team danced through to their first-ever world title. They won 5-2 and Pele, who was aged 17 years, 239 days on the final day, scored twice in the second-half. 

The Brazilian striker went on to win two more World Cup medals and remains the only player to have won the tournament three times. 

Manuel Rosas (Mexico) - 18 years, 90 days

In the first-ever FIFA World Cup staged by Uruguay in 1930, Mexican forward Manuel Rosas scored twice in their group stage match against eventual finalists Argentina. 

Rosas, who was 18 years, 90 days old as of that day, was one of the few players who withstood the Argentine storm and made his mark. Mexico lost the game 6-3 but Rosas’ record for being the youngest goal-scorer at the tournament stood for 28 years. 

Gavi (Spain) - 18 years, 110 days

Gavi is the first player under the age of 19 to score at the World Cup since Lionel Messi did it in 2006. With an exquisite touch of the outside of his boot, the Spanish No. 9 scored his side’s fifth goal of the day. 

Spain went on to defeat Costa Rica 7-0 in what turned out to be their biggest win at the World Cup. 

Michael Owen (England) - 18 years, 190 days

Michael Owen is the youngest English footballer to score at the World Cup. He was 18 years, 190 days when he scored an 83rd minute equaliser against Romania in the 1998 edition. 

Unfortunately for the former Liverpool forward, Romania scored again in stoppage time to hand England a heartbreak but Owen continues to maintain that record. 

Jude Bellingham scored against Iran in England’s opening game at the 2022 World Cup, taking the second spot in the list of youngest English goal-scorers in the tournament. 

Unfortunately for the former Liverpool forward, Romania scored again in stoppage time to hand England a heartbreak but Owen continues to maintain that record. 

Nicolae Kovacs (Romania) - 18 years, 198 days

Another U19 goal-scorer in the 1930 World Cup was Romania’s Nicolae Kovacs, who got on the scoresheet against Peru in a 3-1 win for his team. Kovacs holds a unique record, only held by a select-few footballers, to have appeared in all the three World Cups that happened before World War II. 

Youngest to score at FIFA World Cup 2022

Gavi (18 years, 110 days) is the youngest to score at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Jude Bellingham (19 years, 145 days) is the only other teenager to have scored at Qatar 2022. Bellingham scored England’s first goal of the 2022 edition in Qatar. 

Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo (21 years, 27 days) scored against Senegal to become the youngest player from his country to score at this tournament, whilst Bukayo Saka (21 years, 77 days) made his mark in the fixture against Iran with a terrific brace.

Featured Image: Xavier Bonilla / Alamy Stock Photo