Lamine Yamal and the Young Legends of the World Cup Final

A Fun Fact About Lamine Yamal

Imagine you’re 19 years old and you just helped your country reach the biggest soccer game in the world — the World Cup final! That’s exactly what Lamine Yamal is doing. After helping Spain (nicknamed "La Roja") beat France in the semifinal on Tuesday, the 19-year-old is headed to the final on Sunday.

But here’s a weird rule: if Spain wins, Yamal legally wouldn’t be allowed to drink celebratory champagne with his teammates in the United States, because he’s still under the legal drinking age there.

Important Point: In the U.S., you must be 21 to drink alcohol. Yamal is only 19, so even a World Cup party can’t include champagne for him!

How Does Yamal’s Age Compare to Past Legends?

Let’s look at some soccer greats and how old they were when they played in a World Cup final.

Pelé | Brazil

• Pelé was 17 years and 249 days old when he helped Brazil win its first World Cup in 1958 (in Sweden).
• He was a brand-new star on the world stage, scoring 6 goals in the tournament.
• He even scored in the final against the host country.
• He is still the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup final.
• Brazil went on to win more titles with him in 1962 and 1970.

(Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Diego Maradona | Argentina

• Maradona was 25 years old when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
• He might have been a 17-year-old champ in 1978, but the coach (César Luis Menotti) left him off the team.
• The coach thought the young teen couldn’t handle the pressure of playing at home.
• It all worked out later when Maradona starred in 1986!

(Photo by Archivo El Grafico/Getty Images)

Ronaldo | Brazil

• Ronaldo was part of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning squad at 17 years and 298 days old.
• He didn’t actually play in the games, but he was on the team that won at the Rose Bowl.
• He was only about 2 months older than Pelé was during his first win.
• After losing the 1998 final to France, Ronaldo won again in 2002 against Germany.

(Photo by Stewart Kendall/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappé | France

• Mbappé became a global superstar at the 2018 World Cup.
• He was 19 years and 207 days old when France won its second World Cup.
• He scored a goal in the final against Croatia.
• That made him only the second teenager ever to score in a World Cup final, after Pelé in 1958.

(Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi | Argentina

• Messi was a bit older when he first reached a final — 27 years old in 2014, but Argentina lost to Germany.
• He finally won the World Cup at age 35 in 2022, ending Argentina’s long wait for the trophy.

(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Summary

Lamine Yamal is 19 and in the World Cup final, but U.S. law says he can’t sip champagne if Spain wins. Compared to legends:

• Pelé won at 17 (youngest final scorer).
• Maradona won at 25 (could’ve been 17 but was left out).
• Ronaldo was on the winning team at 17.
• Mbappé won at 19 and scored in the final.
• Messi first played a final at 27 and won at 35.

These stories show that soccer heroes come in all ages!

FAQ

1. Why can’t Yamal drink champagne if Spain wins?
Because in the United States, the legal drinking age is 21, and Yamal is only 19.

2. Who was the youngest player to score in a World Cup final?
Pelé, at 17 years and 249 days old in 1958.

3. Did Mbappé score in a World Cup final as a teenager?
Yes! He scored for France in the 2018 final at 19 years old.

4. Was Messi young when he first played a World Cup final?
No, he was 27 in 2014. He won the trophy later at age 35.

5. Did Ronaldo play in the 1994 World Cup final?
No, he was on the squad but didn’t play in the matches; he was there as a 17-year-old winner.