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Lamine Yamal Surpasses Messi in Youngest World Cup Scorers List

Published

2 months ago

June 22, 2026

The Spain winger netted against Saudi Arabia at the 2026 World Cup, moving ahead of Lionel Messi in the all-time youngest scorers list

Spain winger Lamine Yamal delivered a landmark moment on Sunday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring against Saudi Arabia to become one of the youngest goalscorers in the tournament’s history and moving ahead of Lionel Messi in the record books.

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The 18-year-old forward found the net in Spain’s 4-0 Group H victory, finishing off a well-worked move initiated by Mikel Oyarzabal, who also scored twice in a dominant performance that underlined Spain’s attacking depth and control throughout the match.

Yamal’s strike marked a historic milestone at the tournament, reinforcing his rapid rise on the global stage and placing him among an elite group of teenage scorers at football’s biggest event.

In doing so, Lamine Yamal edged ahead of Lionel Messi in the ranking of youngest World Cup goalscorers, with Messi having scored his first World Cup goal at 18 years and 357 days. Yamal, aged 18 years and 343 days, now sits eighth on the all-time list.

The achievement also places Yamal in rare company. Only one younger player has ever scored the opening goal of a World Cup match, with Brazil legend Pelé famously doing so at 17 years old against Wales in 1958.

Spain’s comprehensive win over Saudi Arabia further strengthened their position in Group H, with the team showcasing fluid attacking play and defensive discipline as they continue their push for a deep tournament run.

Following the match, attention quickly turned to Yamal’s record-breaking moment, which has already sparked widespread discussion among football analysts and supporters comparing generations of talent.

The teenager’s rise has been closely watched since his emergence at club level, with many viewing him as one of the brightest prospects in world football.

His World Cup breakthrough adds further weight to expectations surrounding his long-term development.

Below is the updated top 10 youngest World Cup goalscorers in history, reflecting Yamal’s new position ahead of Lionel Messi.

Pele – 17 years, 239 days
Manuel Rosas – 18 years, 93 days
Gavi – 18 years, 110 days
Ibrahim Mbaye – 18 years, 142 days
Michael Owen – 18 years, 190 days
Nicolae Kovacs – 18 years, 197 days
Dmitri Sychev – 18 years, 231 days
Lamine Yamal – 18 years, 343 days
Lionel Messi – 18 years, 357 days
Julian Green – 19 years, 25 days

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The moment further cements Yamal’s growing reputation on the world stage, as Spain continue to rely on his creativity and composure in high-pressure matches.

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Cubarsí Leads 2026 Golden Boy Race Ahead of Yamal

Published

36 minutes ago

August 18, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Pau Cubarsí tops the current Golden Boy Award 2026 standings ahead of teammate Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí is currently leading the 2026 Golden Boy Award race, according to the latest standings released by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport, with teammate Lamine Yamal in second and Yan Diomande third.

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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that Cubarsí is currently ahead of the field as the voting process continues, with the final vote still expected later this year.

Yamal’s second-place position comes with an important caveat. The Barcelona forward cannot win the award again this year because he previously claimed the Golden Boy prize in 2024.

The 2026 race is still open, with Tuttosport continuing to update its rankings before the final voting stage.

The award is presented to the outstanding young player in European top-flight football and is decided by an international jury of sports journalists.

Cubarsí’s position reflects his growing reputation at Barcelona. The defender has become an increasingly important figure for the Spanish club and has already collected major honours during his young career.

Diomande’s presence in third also underlines the strength of this year’s field.

The Real Madrid youngster is among the 100 players initially shortlisted for the 2026 award, with the list due to be reduced to 20 finalists before the winner is selected.

The Golden Boy has a distinguished history, with previous winners including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yamal.

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For Cubarsí, however, the immediate task is to maintain his advantage. With the decisive voting still to come, the Barcelona defender has emerged as the early favourite, but the final outcome remains open.