O King Pele for several editions he held the title of youngest player to compete in a World cupbut this record was broken by an athlete unknown to a large part of the public.
in the duel between Brazil and the Soviet Union, in the 1958 World Cup. After 24 years, Norman Whiteside, from Northern Ireland, broke this writing.
Whiteside entered the field at just 17 years and 1 month in the Spanish Cup in 1982. Pelé’s record was surpassed in the draw between the Northern Irish and Yugoslavia.
I remember Pelé sent me a video. It was very funny. Pelé said: ‘Norman, congratulations on breaking my record. I hope you are as successful as me and win three World Cups!’ I couldn’t stop laughing. Can you imagine Northern Ireland winning three Cups? But it was very kind of him to send the message. Having broken a record held by someone like Pelé, having played in the World Cup at a younger age than players like Pelé and Lionel Messi, is something I’m very proud of.
Cameroonian star on the list
In addition to the King of football and the former Northern Ireland player, the list of youngest players to take the field in World Cups also includes Samuel Eto’o.
The star who played for big teams, such as Barcelona and Inter Milan, entered the field for Cameroon in the 1998 World Cup, in France, at the age of 17 years and 3 months, in the 3-0 defeat to Italy.
The youngest of the World Cups
- Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland) – 17 years and 1 month in the 1982 World Cup
- Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – 17 years and 3 months in the 1998 World Cup
- Femi Opabunmi (Nigeria) – 17 years and 3 months in the 2002 World Cup
- Salomon Olembé (Cameroon) – 17 years and 6 months in the 1998 World Cup
- Pelé (Brazil) – 17 years and 7 months in the 1958 World Cup
