20 Youngest Players to Win the FIFA World Cup

Winning the FIFA World Cup is a big deal in football. Winning it before turning 21 is even more special. It puts a player in a small group of young champions.

Brazil's legend Pelé is number one on the list of the 20 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup. He reached this amazing feat at just 17 years and 249 days during the 1958 tournament in Sweden.

Pelé is still the youngest player ever to win a World Cup.

He played a key role in Brazil's successful run, scoring six goals. He netted two in the final as Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 to win their first World Cup title.

Another Brazilian, Ronaldo Nazário, is in second place. He was 17 years and 298 days old when Brazil lifted the 1994 World Cup trophy in the United States.

Even though he did not play during that tournament, Ronaldo was part of the winning team.

Italy's Giuseppe Bergomi takes third place. He became a world champion at 18 years and 174 days when Italy defeated West Germany 3-1 in the 1982 final.

Brazil's Coutinho and Spain's Lamine Yamal share fourth place at 19 years and six days. Yamal's inclusion shows that a new generation of young football stars is rising. The Spanish winger is listed among players who helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup, joining a notable group of teenagers and young talents at the top of football.

Brazil's Marco Antonio is sixth at 19 years and 135 days. He is followed by Spain's Pau Cubarsí, who is listed at 19 years and 178 days.

France's Kylian Mbappé is eighth. He was 19 years and 207 days old when France beat Croatia 4-2 in the 2018 World Cup final in Russia. Mbappé scored in the final and was one of the stars of the tournament.

Brazil's Mazzola and Uruguay's Rubén Morán complete the top 10.

The list also has many famous names from different times, including Italy's Felice Borel, Brazil's Kaká and Clodoaldo, Germany's Matthias Ginter and Julian Draxler, and France's David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry.

Kaká was 20 years and 69 days old when Brazil won the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Trezeguet and Henry were also part of France's winning team in the 1998 tournament.

The ranking of the youngest champions shows that age has never stopped players from achieving football's highest honour. From Pelé's historic win in 1958 to the modern stars like Yamal, these players have celebrated World Cup success at very young ages.

Top 20 youngest players to win the FIFA World Cup

Pelé (Brazil), 17 years, 249 days

Ronaldo (Brazil), 17 years, 298 days

Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy), 18 years, 174 days

Coutinho (Brazil), 19 years, 6 days

Lamine Yamal (Spain), 19 years, 6 days

Marco Antonio (Brazil), 19 years, 135 days

Pau Cubarsí (Spain), 19 years, 178 days

Kylian Mbappé (France), 19 years, 207 days

Mazzola (Brazil), 19 years, 309 days

Rubén Morán (Uruguay), 19 years, 344 days

Felice Borel (Italy), 20 years, 66 days

Kaká (Brazil), 20 years, 69 days

Matthias Ginter (Germany), 20 years, 175 days

Luis Islas (Argentina), 20 years, 189 days

Clodoaldo (Brazil), 20 years, 268 days

David Trezeguet (France), 20 years, 270 days

Julian Draxler (Germany), 20 years, 296 days

Edu (Brazil), 20 years, 319 days

Thierry Henry (France), 20 years, 329 days

Uli Biesinger (West Germany), 20 years, 332 days

Pelé's record is still the mark to beat, almost seven decades after his unforgettable win in Sweden. While new generations keep making history, the title of the youngest World Cup champion still belongs to the Brazilian legend.