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Most teenagers spend their time studying, hanging out with friends, or preparing for college. Spaniards Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are expected to start the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Thursday.
If Spain manages to win the World Cup final for only the second time, 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:
Pele (1958)
(Photo by/photo alliance via Getty Images)
After a hat-trick for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup semi-final against France, Pelé, at 17 years and 249 days old, scored two goals against host nation Sweden to lead Brazil to their first ever World Cup. At the 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 quarter-final against Brazil. Bergomi made the most of his minutes in the memorable 3-2 victory and earned a starting spot in the semi-finals. After beating Poland 2-0 in the semifinals, Italy beat West Germany in the final, 3-1. Bergomi was 19 years and 344 days old at the end of the tournament.
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 striker in the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions of the tournament, stood out in 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.
