Well, scoring a goal for their respective countries in the high-stakes final match of the FIFA World Cup is nothing short of a dream for the majority of football players out there. The glorious and star-studded history of the World Cup that spans over decades has witnessed numerous prominent football stalwarts taking command of their team and proving to be the ultimate game-changers in the final showdown of the world’s most prestigious football tournament – the FIFA World Cup.
While numerous legendary football players, from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, have altered the course of the tournament after scoring match-winning goals for their countries, a few young football stalwarts have defied the odds of their age and left the fans stunned with their spine-chilling performance in the World Cup finals, leading their teams to sensational victories.
In this article we will take a look at the top four youngest football stalwarts who have succeeded in scoring breathtaking goals in the FIFA World Cup finals.
Top 4 Youngest Footballers to Score in a FIFA World Cup Final
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Pelé – 17 Years, 239 Days
The Brazilian professional footballer, Pelé, who played as a forward, is at the first spot on our list of the top four youngest football players who left the fans stunned after scoring a goal in the high-stakes final match of the FIFA World Cup. Often hailed as one of the greatest football players of all-time, Pelé scored a total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games that he played throughout his career, which continues to be a Guinness world record, speaking volumes about his unmatched dominance on the field.
Throughout his glorious professional football career, the Brazilian football stalwart played a total of fourteen World Cup matches and appeared in two finals in the years 1958 against Wales and in 1970 against Italy. During the 1958 World Cup, Pelé etched his name in history, and scored a goal in the 66th minute of the match against Wales at the age of 17 years and 239 days, establishing himself as the youngest football player to ever score a goal in the final match of the FIFA World Cup.
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Manuel Rosas – 18 Years, 93 Days
At the second spot in our list of the top four youngest football stalwarts who have succeeded in scoring breathtaking goals in the FIFA World Cup finals, we have Mexican former professional football player Manuel Rosas, who played as a left-back throughout his glorious football career.
Widely regarded as one of the most lethal Mexican defenders in the history of football, Manuel Rosas played in only one World Cup in 1980 and established himself as the second-youngest football player to score a goal in the World Cup final against Argentina in the 60th minute of the match at the age of 18 years and ninety-four days ranking him at the second spot in our list. Earlier, Manuel Rosas also scored an own goal against Chile in Mexico’s opening match, unfortunately making him the only football player in the history of the tournament to score a penalty goal in the World Cup.
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Gavi – 18 Years, 110 Days
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four youngest football players who left the fans stunned after scoring a goal in the high-stakes final match of the FIFA World Cup, we have the iconic 20-year-old Spanish professional football player Gavi, who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.
In the spine-chilling final World Cup match against Costa Rica, Giva scored a sensational goal in the 2022 World Cup at the age of 18 years and 110 days, establishing himself as Spain’s youngest and the world’s third-youngest football player to score a goal in the World Cup finals. Owing to his trailblazing attacks throughout the 2022 World Cup, Gavi clinched the Golden Boy award and received the Kopa Trophy by France Football during the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
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Michael Owen – 18 Years, 190 Days
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four youngest football stalwarts who have succeeded in scoring breathtaking goals in the FIFA World Cup finals, we have the English former professional football player Michael Owen, who played as a striker for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, as well as the England national team.
Often hailed as one of the greatest strikers of his generation, Michael Owen played a total of three World Cups in the years 1998, 2002 and 2006 and scored an overall total of four goals in the nine matches that he played throughout his World Cup career. At the age of 18 years and 190 days, the legendary English striker Michael Owen scored a goal against Romania at the 1998 FIFA World Cup edition, ranking him at the fourth spot in our list.
