Spain's Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí are on the verge of potentially joining a select group of footballers who have started and won a FIFA World Cup final as teenagers. The duo is expected to be in the starting lineup for Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup final match against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Should Spain emerge victorious, Yamal and Cubarsí would become only the fourth and fifth players in World Cup history to achieve this feat. The rarity of this accomplishment underscores the significance of their potential achievement.
A Historic Milestone
The first teenager to start and win a World Cup final was Brazil's Pelé in 1958. At just 17 years and 249 days old, Pelé scored two goals against host nation Sweden, leading Brazil to its first-ever World Cup title. His performance in that final remains one of the most iconic in the tournament's history.
Decades later, Italian defender Giuseppe Bergomi achieved the same distinction in 1982. Bergomi, who was 19 years and 344 days old at the end of the tournament, earned a starting spot for Italy in their final match against West Germany after impressing as a substitute earlier in the knockout stages. Italy won the final 3-1.
The most recent player to accomplish this remarkable feat was France's Kylian Mbappé in 2018. Mbappé, a prominent figure for France in multiple World Cups, broke onto the global scene in 2018, scoring four goals throughout the tournament, including one in the final against Croatia. Since Mbappé's achievement, no other teenager has started and won the World Cup final.
Yamal, a winger, and Cubarsí, a defender, have been key contributors for Spain throughout the tournament, showcasing exceptional talent and composure at their young ages. Their presence in the final, and the possibility of them winning, adds another layer of historical significance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.