Lamine Yamal Surpasses Lionel Messi, Becomes 8th Youngest Goal Scorer At FIFA World Cup

Published 21 June 2026 · sports

Lamine Yamal Surpasses Lionel Messi, Becomes 8th Youngest Goal Scorer At FIFA World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 04:49 IST Messi was

Lamine Yamal Surpasses Lionel Messi, Becomes 8th Youngest Goal Scorer At FIFA World Cup Published By, Last Updated: June 22, 2026, 04:49 IST Messi was 18 years and 357 days old when he scored his first FIFA World Cup goal for Argentina in 2006. In comparison, Yamal was 18 years and 343 days old on Sunday. Lamine Yamal overtakes Lionel Messi to become 8th youngest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup. (Picture Credit: AP) Lamine Yamal started his first FIFA World Cup match for Spain on Sunday (June 21) and needed just 10 minutes to score his maiden goal in football’s biggest tournament. The goal by Barcelona’s No. 10 against Saudi Arabia at Atlanta Stadium helped him overtake Lionel Messi and become the eighth-youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Messi was 18 years and 357 days old when he scored his first FIFA World Cup goal for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 16, 2006. In comparison, Yamal was 18 years and 343 days old on Sunday.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD CUP, LAMINE 🏆🇪🇸Our 2-time Kopa Trophy winner Lamine Yamal surpasses Messi and becomes the eighth-youngest player to score in a World Cup: 🥇 🇧🇷 Pelé, 17 years and 239 days🥈 🇲🇽 Manuel Rosas, 18 years and 93 days🥉 🇪🇸 Gavi, 18 years and 110 days4️⃣ 🇸🇳… pic.twitter.com/hNb34Yo97M — Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) June 21, 2026 Yamal is the second-youngest goalscorer for Spain in FIFA World Cup history. His Barcelona teammate Gavi was 18 years and 110 days old when he scored for La Roja against Costa Rica at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The overall record for the youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history belongs to Pelé. The Brazilian legend was 17 years and 239 days old when he scored his first World Cup goal against Wales at Ullevi in Gothenburg on June 19, 1958. Youngest goal scorers in FIFA World Cup PLAYER COUNTRY AGE FIRST GOAL AGAINST VENUE DATE Pele Brazil 17 years and 239 days Wales Ullevi, Gothenburg June 19, 1958 Manuel Rosas Mexico 18 years and 93 days Argentina Estadio Centenario, Montevideo July 19, 1930 Gavi Spain 18 years and 110 days Costa Rica Al Thumama Stadium, Doha November 23, 2022 Ibrahim Mbaye Senegal 18 years and 142 days France MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford June 16, 2026 Michael Owen England 18 years and 190 days Romania Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse June 22, 1998 Nicolae Kovacs Romania 18 years and 197 days Peru Estadio Pocitos, Montevideo July 14, 1930 Dmitri Sychev Russia 18 years and 231 days Belgium Ecopa Stadium, Fukuroi June 14, 2002 Lamine Yamal Spain 18 years and 343 days Saudi Arabia Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta June 21, 2026 Lionel Messi Argentina 18 years and 357 days Serbia and Montenegro Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen June 16, 2006 Yamal’s goal against Saudi Arabia in Spain’s second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup also helped him equal a 68-year-old record held by Pelé.