The Youngest Players In FIFA World Cup History

It’s every schoolboy’s dream to play in the FIFA World Cup for his national team, for a lucky few playing in the biggest football mega event was their reality. In this article, we take a closer look at the youngest players in FIFA World Cup history. There are some big names on the list but also some surprising names.

Norman Whiteside (17 Years & 40 Days)

Northern Ireland vs. Yugoslavia – June 17, 1982

Norman Whiteside drew immediate comparisons to fellow Northern Irish superstar George Best as a youngster, who happen to also scout him for Manchester United. He had some early injury setbacks, that would eventually impact his career, despite all of that, he made the list as one of the youngest players at the FIFA World Cup. Whiteside made only two appearances for Manchester United before he was called for Northern Ireland’s 1982 World Cup squad.

Samuel Eto’o (17 Years & 98 Days)

Cameroon vs. Italy – June 17, 1998

Samuel Eto’o made his World Cup debut in a 3-0 defeat for Cameroon against Italy, the same day as Whiteside made his debut, but 16 years later. He only played 24 minutes in 1998 but by 2002, with back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles under his belt as well as an Olympic gold medal, hopes were high that Eto’o could lead his side to greater heights. He became Cameroon’s all-time leading goal scorer and is currently the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. The greatest African player of all time?

Femi Opabunmi (17 Years & 100 Days)

Samuel Eto’o made his World Cup debut in a 3-0 defeat for Cameroon against Italy, the same day as Whiteside made his debut, but 16 years later. He only played 24 minutes in 1998 but by 2002, with back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations titles under his belt as well as an Olympic gold medal, hopes were high that Eto’o could lead his side to greater heights. He became Cameroon’s all-time leading goal scorer and is currently the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. The greatest African player of all time?

Saloman Olembe (17 Years & 184 Days)

Cameroon vs. Austria – June 11, 1998

Six days before Eto’o made his debut, Salomon Olembé had become Cameroon’s youngest player at the FIFA World Cup finals, having made his debut a year ago against England at the age of sixteen. His 65th-minute substitute appearance against Austria was followed up by starting role in Cameroon’s next two games, but these would be the only World Cup finals appearances of his career, although he would eventually win 65 caps for Cameroon and won back-to-back AFCON titles in 2000 and 2002.

Pele (17 Years & 234 Days)

Brazil vs. USSR – June 15, 1958

The greatest of all time (at least to some), in many ways, the player who still holds most of the youngest World Cup records in the men’s game. Starting by becoming the youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history with the only goal in their quarter-final win over Wales, the victory over France in the semi-finals saw Pelé become the youngest scorer of a hat-trick in World Cup history. He went on to feature in four World Cup finals, winning the Jules Rimet trophy on three occasions and he holds the record for most assists in a single tournament with six in the 1970 World Cup while scoring four goals.

Siphamandla Lindwa

Siphamandla Lindwa is a sports writer and a publisher for Bet Central at Bet.co.za. He obtained a B-Tech in Sports Management from Tshwane University of Technology. When not writing sports content, Sipha scouts talent and networks for his future Sports Management agency.