Throughout the 20th century, while football as we know it today was still in development, it was normal for a young player to be called up to the senior national team, as youth categories weren’t as advanced as they are today.Nowadays, national teams have young teams from U-15 to U-21 and even U-23 when it comes to the Olympic Games. As players go through all of these steps and levels, they rarely reach senior squads before entering their third decade of life.Club of Number 10 — Yamal’s Birthday GiftThat’s why many thought Pele’s record from the 1958 FIFA World Cup, when he won the trophy with Brazil at 17 years and 249 days, would never be broken. His compatriot Ronaldo Nazario was close at the 1994 WC, as he was 53 days older when he became the World Champion.However, everything changed when Lamine Yamal appeared and enchanted the whole football world even before his 17th birthday. The Spaniard turned 17 a day before the 2024 European Championship final against England, which La Roja won 2-1, and thus dethroned Pele from the pedestal he’d been sitting on for 66 years.Nevertheless, even though many thought Yamal would be untouchable for a significant period, his “supremacy” lasted for less than a year – 358 days, to be precise!-Gilberto Mora: 16 years, 265 days old-Lamine Yamal: 17 years, 2 days old-Pelé: 17 years, 249 days oldMexico’s Gilberto Mora is now the youngest player to EVER win an international final 😮 pic.twitter.com/lvFphc6JrT— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 7, 2025 Two days ago, Mexico beat the USA 2-1 in the North American CONCACAF Gold Cup final and won their tenth trophy in the competition. At the same time, their young midfielder Gilberto Mora, aged 16 years and 265 days, became the youngest-ever player to win silverware with a national team!And Club Tijuana’s gem wasn’t just a mere observer of El Tricolor’s success, as he was a starter in the quarter-final, semi-final, and grand final, and even made an assist in the semis against Honduras.##NAJAVA_MECA_9011944##Finally, Mora’s quick dethronement of Yamal just shows that nowadays, fewer managers are afraid to give talented youngsters a chance. These days, players mature earlier, and already at 16 or 17, they are ready to lock horns with much more experienced rivals.So, now, Mora holds the record in his hands. Still, considering today’s trend, probably not for long.
