There are two names on the shortlist of youngest players to ever start a World Cup knockout match. One is Pelé. The other is now Gilberto Mora.
At 17 years and 259 days old, Mora started Mexico’s Round of 16 clash against Czechia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a game Mexico won 2-0. That performance slotted him directly into the history books, just 20 days behind Pelé, who was 17 years and 239 days when he started Brazil’s knockout fixture at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
A record that stretches back to 1930
The Czechia match was not Mora’s first taste of World Cup football. He had appeared as a substitute in an earlier group stage game against South Africa before earning his starting spot in the knockout round.
Mora became the youngest Mexican player ever to start a World Cup match, breaking a record that had stood since 1930. Mora became the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history when he netted at 15 years old. He then helped Mexico lift the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup at 16, starting all three knockout matches in that tournament.
