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

Kylian Mbappe becomes first French teenager to score at the World Cup (and only the 18th in history) after netting winner in Peru clash

  • Starlet Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal as France beat Peru on Thursday
  • The 19-year-old striker is now the only French teenager to score at the finals 
  • Mbappe joins an elite band of 18 players to net at the finals before 20th birthday
  • Pele remains the youngest goalscorer, while Michael Owen is also on the list 

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.

Kylian Mbappe, 19, scored the only goal as France beat Peru in the World Cup on Thursday

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

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

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

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

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. 

TEENAGERS TO SCORE IN THE WORLD CUP FINALS  (Source: Opta)
Year  Team  Player  Opponent  Goals  Years  Days 
1958 Brazil Pele  Wales  17  238 
1930  Mexico  Manuel Rosas  Argentina  18  92 
1998 England  Michael Owen  Romania  18  190 
1930 Romania  Nicolae Kovacs  Peru  18  197 
2002  Russia  Dmitry Sychev  Belgium  18  231 
2006  Argentina  Lionel Messi  Serbia  18  357 
1930  Yugoslavia  Aleksandar Tirnanic  Brazil  18  364 
2014 USA  Julian Green  Belgium  19  25 
1974  East Germany  Martin Hoffman  Chile  19  88 
1930  Romania  Constantin Stanciu  Peru  19  92 
1966  Brazil  Tostau  Hungary  19  171
2018  France  Kylian Mbappe Peru  19  183
1934  Germany  Edward Conen  Belgium  19  198
1958  Brazil  Altafini  Austria  19  319
1990  Costa Rica  Ronald Gonzalez  Czechoslovakia  19  319
1958  Yugoslavia  Radovoje Ognajanovic  Paraguay  1 19  349 
1962  Bulgaria  Georgy Sokolov   Hungary 19  349 

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