Jewel of Mexico joins the ranking of youngest players to play in a World Cup

Mexico's main promise, midfielder Gilberto Mora, was used in the second half of the opening of the 2026 World Cup, against South Africa, and entered the top-10 youngest players in history to play in the main competition in world football.

Mora entered the field at the age of 17 years and 240 days this Thursday (11), becoming the sixth youngest player in the history of the World Cup.

The young Mexican is behind none other than Pelé, who completes the top 5 having debuted at 17 years and 234 days in 1958, that is, six days less than Mora.

The youngest player to take the field at a World Cup is Norman Whiteside, from Northern Ireland, who debuted at 17 years and 40 days in the 1982 edition.

Confira o ranking de jogadores mais jovens a jogar a Copa do Mundo na história

- Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland) - 17 years and 40 days - 1982 World Cup
- Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - 17 years and 98 days - 1998 World Cup
- Femi Opabunmi (Nigeria) - 17 years and 100 days - 2002 World Cup
- Salomon Olembe (Cameroon) - 17 years and 184 days - 1998 World Cup
- Pelé (Brazil) - 17 years and 234 days - 1958 World Cup
- Gilberto Mora (Mexico) - 17 years and 240 days - 2026 World Cup
- Bartholomew Ogbeche (Nigeria) - 17 years and 244 days - World Cup 2002
- Rigobert Song (Cameroon) - 17 years and 353 days - 1994 World Cup
- Youssoufa Moukoko (Germany) - 18 years and 3 days - 2022 World Cup
- Garang Kuol (Australia) - 18 years and 69 days - 2022 World Cup

See the ranking of the most valuable squads of the World Cup

Source: CNN