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 days 4️⃣ 🇸🇳… 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.
18 – Lamine Yamal is only the second player aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a FIFA World Cup match – the other was a 17-year-old Pelé for Brazil v Wales in 1958.
Emulating. pic.twitter.com/Pf3ty86zdI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 21, 2026
The Barcelona star is only the second player aged 18 or younger to score the opening goal in a FIFA World Cup match. Pelé was the first player aged 18 or younger to achieve the feat.
