The youngest player to appear at the World Cup was Northern Ireland's Norman Whiteside, who was just 17 years and 41 days old in 1982. The youngest player in a World Cup Final was Pelé of Brazil, when he appeared in the final against Sweden in 1958. He was then only 17 years and 249 days old. See also our list of the oldest players, and Oldest and Youngest Players Trivia.

Top-10 List of the Youngest Players

Rank Age Player Country World Cup
1 17 years, 41 days Norman Whiteside Northern Ireland 1982
2 17 years,  98 days

Samuel Eto'o

 Cameroon 1998
3 17 years, 100 days

Femi Opabunmi

 Nigeria 2002
4 17 years, 184 days

Salomon Olembe

 Cameroon 1998
5 17 years, 234 days

Pele

 Brazil 1958
6 17 years, 244 days Bartholomew Ogbeche Nigeria 2002
7 17 years, 353 days Rigobert Song Cameroon 1994
8 18 years, 25 days Carvalho Leite Brazil 1930
9 18 years, 68 days Garang Kuol Australia 2022
10 18 years, 87 days Manuel Rosas Mexico 1930

Other noteworthy young players

  • The youngest player to appear in a qualifying match was Souleymane Mamam of Togo who was just 13 years and 310 days old, in a game against Zambia on 6 May 2001 (CAF Group 1).