FIFA has released the list of the 20 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup, highlighting the rare group of footballers who lifted the sport’s biggest prize before the age of 21.
The youngest World Cup winners list, published on FIFA’s official website on Thursday, features legendary names such as Pelé, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappé, alongside Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal, who became one of the youngest champions after helping his country win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, only a handful of players have claimed the trophy before celebrating their 21st birthday.
Pelé remains the youngest champion
Brazil icon Pelé continues to hold the record as the youngest player ever to win the FIFA World Cup. He was just 17 years and 249 days old when Brazil won the 1958 tournament in Sweden.
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Pelé also became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final, netting twice in Brazil’s 5-2 victory over Sweden, a record that still stands.
His fellow Brazilian Ronaldo Nazário ranks second after winning the 1994 World Cup at 17 years and 298 days, although he did not feature in a match during the tournament.
Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi completes the top three after helping his country win the 1982 World Cup at the age of 18 years and 174 days.
Yamal enters World Cup history
Spain winger Lamine Yamal is the highest-ranked player from the modern era, sharing fourth place with Brazil’s Coutinho after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup at 19 years and six days.
Yamal’s inclusion further strengthens his growing reputation as one of football’s brightest young stars, having already enjoyed success at club and international level before turning 20.
Spain also has another representative on the list, centre-back Pau CubarsÃ, who ranks seventh after becoming a world champion at 19 years and 178 days.
France forward Kylian Mbappé, who won the World Cup in 2018 at the age of 19 years and 207 days, occupies eighth place.
Brazil dominates the rankings
Brazil has the highest number of players on the youngest World Cup winners list, underlining the country’s rich history in producing world champions at a young age.
The list also includes football greats such as Kaká, David Trezeguet, Julian Draxler, Thierry Henry and Argentina goalkeeper Luis Islas.
| Rank | Player | Country | Position | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelé | Brazil | Forward | 17 years, 249 days |
| 2 | Ronaldo | Brazil | Forward | 17 years, 298 days |
| 3 | Giuseppe Bergomi | Italy | Full-back | 18 years, 174 days |
| 4 | Coutinho | Brazil | Forward | 19 years, 6 days |
| 4 | Lamine Yamal | Spain | Winger | 19 years, 6 days |
| 6 | Marco Antonio | Brazil | Full-back | 19 years, 135 days |
| 7 | Pau Cubarsà | Spain | Centre-back | 19 years, 178 days |
| 8 | Kylian Mbappé | France | Winger/Forward | 19 years, 207 days |
| 9 | Mazzola | Brazil | Forward | 19 years, 309 days |
| 10 | Ruben Moran | Uruguay | Winger | 19 years, 344 days |
| 11 | Felice Borel | Italy | Forward | 20 years, 66 days |
| 12 | Kaká | Brazil | Attacking Midfielder | 20 years, 69 days |
| 13 | Matthias Ginter | Germany | Defender | 20 years, 175 days |
| 14 | Luis Islas | Argentina | Goalkeeper | 20 years, 189 days |
| 15 | Clodoaldo | Brazil | Midfielder | 20 years, 268 days |
| 16 | David Trezeguet | France | Forward | 20 years, 270 days |
| 17 | Julian Draxler | Germany | Midfielder | 20 years, 296 days |
| 18 | Edu | Brazil | Winger | 20 years, 319 days |
| 19 | Thierry Henry | France | Winger/Forward | 20 years, 329 days |
| 20 | Uli Biesinger | West Germany | Forward | 20 years, 332 days |
