France’s Mbappe becomes 18th teenager to score at the World Cup

France starlet Kylian Mbappe joined an elite band of players when he netted the only goal in their 1-0 World Cup victory over Peru on Thursday.

The first-half strike, which secured victory for Didier Deschamps’ side and their safe passage from Group C, was the 19-year-old’s first in the summer showpiece.

In opening his World Cup account, Mbappe became the first French teenager ever to score at the finals – and only the 18th player in history to do.

Brazil legend Pele remains the youngest ever World Cup scorer, having first netted aged 17

Michael Owen, who scored against Romania in 1998, is the only Englishman on the list

The Frenchman now joins the likes of Pele, Michael Owen and Lionel Messi in the select group of stars to have netted before their 20th birthday.

Pele, who found the net in three different games as a teenager, remains the youngest ever player to score a World Cup goal. He was only 17 years and 238 days old when he opened his account against Wales in 1958.

Michael Owen, who announced himself to the world with a late equaliser against Romania in 1998, is the only Englishman on the list.

At 18 years and 190 days old, Owen is the third youngest player ever to score at a finals, behind only Pele and Mexico’s Manuel Rosas.

Argentina star Lionel Messi first opened his World Cup account against Serbia back in 2006

Four years ago it was the turn of American teenager Julian Green (c) to score at the finals

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, was 18 years and 357 days old when he opened his World Cup account against Serbia in Germany in 2006.

Mbappe has enjoyed a stunning rise from the notorious banlieues of Paris to help spearhead his country’s attack in Russia.

The 19-year-old is considered one of the hottest prospects in world football and has already won Ligue 1 titles with both Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.