Lamine Yamal Becomes Third Youngest Player To Feature In FIFA World Cup Final

Spain are taking on Argentina in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday (July 19). In the biggest match of this year’s tournament at the New York New Jersey Stadium, Lamine Yamal has been named in Spain’s starting XI.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

By featuring in the final against Argentina, Yamal has entered his name in the record books. The Spanish teenager has become the third-youngest player in history to play in a FIFA World Cup final.

The record for being the youngest player to feature in a FIFA World Cup final is held by Pele. The Brazilian legend was just 17 years and 249 days old when he represented Brazil in the 1958 FIFA World Cup final against Sweden.

Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi is second on the list. He was 18 years and 201 days old

when he played in the final of the 1982 FIFA World Cup against West Germany. Yamal is 19 years and six days old on Sunday.

Youngest players to feature in FIFA World Cup final

EDITION	PLAYER	COUNTRY	AGE	AGAINST	VENUE	DATE
1958	Pele	Brazil	17 years, 249 days	Sweden	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	June 29, 1958
1982	Giuseppe Bergom	Italy	18 years, 201 days	West Germany	Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid	July 11, 1982
2026	Lamine Yamal	Spain	19 years, 6 days	Argentina	New York New Jersey Stadium	July 19, 2026
2026	Pau Cubarsi	Spain	19 years, 178 days	Argentina	New York New Jersey Stadium	July 19, 2026
2018	Kylian Mbappe	France	19 years, 207 days	Croatia	Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow	July 15, 2018

Apart from Yamal, Pau Cubarsi is also part of Spain’s playing XI for the final against Argentina. The Barcelona defender is 19 years and 178 days old on July 19, 2026, making him the fourth-youngest player in history to play in a FIFA World Cup final.

France captain Kylian Mbappe occupies fifth place on the list. Mbappe was 19 years and 207 days old when he featured in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final against Croatia.

Notably, Pele scored in the 1958 World Cup final and went on to lift the trophy with Brazil. Yamal will hope to achieve a similar feat against Argentina.

Interestingly, all three players who featured in a World Cup final at a younger age than Yamal and Cubarsi went on to win the title.

Yamal, who is playing in his maiden FIFA World Cup in 2026, has also become the first teenager in history to start both a UEFA Euro final and a FIFA World Cup final.