Youngest footballers in national teams
THE youngest footballer in a national team can vary depending on the specific team and the timing.
However, some notable examples include Lamine Yamal for Spain, who is one of the youngest players to debut and score for the national team.
In other cases, players like Norman Whiteside have made headlines as the youngest players to debut at a World Cup. Here’s a more detailed look: Lamine Yamal (Spain): Yamal has broken several records for being the youngest player to debut and score for the Spanish national team.
He also holds the record for being the youngest player to appear in the European Championship. Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland): Whiteside was the youngest player to play in a World Cup when he debuted for Northern Ireland in 1982. Youssoufa Moukoko (Germany): Moukoko became the youngest player to feature in the UEFA Champions League, playing for Borussia Dortmund.
Ethan Nwaneri (England): Nwaneri holds the record for being the youngest player in the Premier League, debuting for Arsenal at the age of 15 years and 181 days, according to ESPN. Cavan Sullivan (USA): Sullivan became the youngest player to appear in a major professional league in the United States, breaking Freddy Adu’s record at 14 years and 293 days old.
Chido Obi (England): Obi became the youngest Manchester United player to start a Premier League match.
Some footballers show talent and maturity way beyond their years, with some very young teenagers playing at senior level There is a saying in football that goes, “if they are good enough, they are old enough” and some coaches believe the dictum completely, showing faith in young players to perform at senior level.
While 16 and 17-year-old players often possess the physicality to play senior football, it is much rarer for players to make the jump at 14 and 15, but it does happen on occasion.
In November 2021 Lucas Knecht was holding the record for youngest player to feature in a senior international football match, having played for the Northern Mariana Islands in a 2007 game against Guam when he was aged 14 years, two days.
