The youngest football player in the world today

With Kobbie Mainoo being the youngest England player to feature in a semi-final in a major tournament at 19 years. Yamal, on the other hand, is the youngest Spanish to play for the Spain national team at 16 years. Despite both players’ performances at the club and national level, they are not the youngest football players in the world.

They both are nowhere near the youngest international players; Kobbie Mainoo’s performance against the Netherlands in Euros 2024 was exceptional.

The youngest International football player

According to statistics by the RSSSF (Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation), the official record for the youngest footballer ever to play in a professional match belongs to Lukas Knecht. At a mere 14 years and 2 days old, Knecht took the field for the Northern Mariana Islands national team in 2007.

However, this record comes with some controversy. The Northern Mariana Islands is a small US territory with a limited football infrastructure. The match itself was more like a joke, raising questions about the legitimacy of the competition.

Despite the controversy surrounding Knecht’s record, there are numerous documented cases of incredibly young players making waves in the sport. In South America, countries like Brazil and Argentina have a long history of nurturing young talent. Stories like Stephen Appiah, who featured for Ghana at 14 years and 322 days old in 1995, show the youngest football player in the world.

Youngest Football Players in the World

Youngest Football player to play in Men’s FIFA World Cup

It is also important we talk about the youngest football player to play at the Men’s FIFA World Cup. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Spain’s Gavi, Garang Kuol, and Youssoufa Moukoko of Germany were the youngest.

But they were all 18 years of age; over the years, Pele of Brazil and Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside had played.

The youngest football player to play at the Men’s FIFA World Cup is Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside. At age 17 and 40 days, Norman Whiteside made his World Cup debut for Ireland against Yugoslavia in 1982.

Manchester United player Norman Whiteside also holds the record of the youngest player to receive a yellow card at the FIFA World Cup. However, his career was cut short due to several injuries, which made him retire from the international side at 26.

Unlike Norman Whiteside, Pele of Brazil was the youngest player to score in the World Cup on his debut game. At 17 years, 239 days, Pele scored against Wales at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Best youngest football player in the World

Pele was regarded as the youngest player in the world, scoring for Brazil at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. He scored in the quarterfinal against Wales, which was his debut game; Pele also scored a hat trick against France in the semifinal.

He holds the record of the youngest football player to score a hat trick at the Men’s FIFA World Cup. The Brazil young player did not just stop there; Pele also scored a brace in the final against host team Sweden, becoming the first youngest football player to score at the FIFA Men’s World Cup final.

Pele is also the first youngest player to win the FIFA World Cup at age 17 and 239 days. He is the most decorated youngest player to grace the game.

Youngest Players at the FIFA Men’s World Cup

Who is England’s youngest International player?

Theo Walcott made his England debut at 17 years and 136 days against Hungary, making him the youngest England player.

Everton’s young Wayne Rooney, at the same age of 17 years and 111 days, became the second youngest England international player.