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Most teenagers spend their time studying, hanging out with friends, or preparing for college. On Thursday, Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are expected to start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium.
If Spain manages to win the World Cup final for the second time in its history, Yamal and Cubarsí will join an elite list of players who started in the World Cup final and won it as teenagers. Here is the full list:
Pelé (1958)
(Photo by/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
After scoring a hat-trick for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup semifinals against France, Pelé, at 17 years and 249 days, scored two goals against host nation Sweden to lead Brazil to its first World Cup. At that time, he was the first teenager to start and win a World Cup final.
Giuseppe Bergomi (1982)
(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)
Giuseppe Bergomi started the 1982 World Cup as a substitute for Italy in the quarterfinals against Brazil. Bergomi took advantage of his minutes in the memorable 3-2 victory and earned the starting spot in the semi-final. After beating Poland 2-0 in the semi-final, Italy beat West Germany in the final 3-1. Bergomi was 19 years and 344 days old when the tournament ended.
Kylian Mbappé (2018)
(Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
The last player to start and win the World Cup final as a teenager was Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé, France’s star forward in the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions, burst into the 2018 tournament with four goals, including the final goal in the title match against Croatia. Since Mbappé, no teenager has started and won the World Cup final.
