Lamine Yamal dreams of winning the World Cup before 20, how did the other prodigies fare? | OneFootball

If Spain win the 2026 World Cup, Lamine Yamal could be a champion at 19 years and six days. Here is how other prodigies compared at the same age.

According to L'Équipe, Pelé was world champion in 1958 at 17 years and eight months. He scored against Wales, hit three versus France, two in the final, and later won in 1962 and 1970, the only man with three titles.

In 2006 Lionel Messi was 19 years and six days, scored and assisted against Serbia, then started only once. He remained unused for the quarter-final with Germany, a 1-1 draw lost 2-4 on penalties.

Diego Maradona was omitted 11 days before Argentina’s 1978 tournament, then lifted the under-20 crown in 1979. He became world champion in 1986 under Carlos Bilardo, defeating Germany 3-2.

Cristiano Ronaldo did not go in 2002 and debuted for Portugal in 2003. In Germany 2006 he scored once, against Iran in a 2-0 win, and Portugal lost the semi-final to France, 0-1.

Kylian Mbappé was crowned at 19 years and 207 days in 2018. He netted versus Peru in a 1-0 group win, scored in the 4-2 final against Croatia and finished with four goals, taking FIFA’s best young player award.

Johan Cruyff’s first World Cup came in 1974 at 27. He declined 1978 after an attempted kidnapping, and the Netherlands had not qualified in 1970.

Ronaldo was the second youngest winner in 1994 at 17 years and 298 days, without playing. He later hit eight in 2002, including two in the 2-0 final against Germany.

Source: L'Équipe