The youngest player at the 2026 World Cup is a great source of hope for co-hosts Mexico: Gilberto Mora is considered an absolutely exceptional talent. Can the youngster shine on the big stage?
Gilberto Mora will be exactly 17 years, 7 months and 28 days old at Mexico’s opening World Cup game against South Africa on June 11th (9 p.m., live in the audio stream on sportschau.de). If the midfielder were to play, he would become the youngest Mexican World Cup player. Nothing new for the super talent: He is the youngest of all 1,248 players at this world tournament – but he is not an unknown quantity. On the contrary.
Mora made his national team debut in Mexico’s quarter-final against Saudi Arabia (2-0) at the Gold Cup 2025 – at just 16 years old. This made the teenager the youngest player ever to play for the “El Tri” was used. Mora was in the starting line-up against the Saudis, as well as in the subsequent semi-final against Honduras (1-0), where he prepared Raul Jimenez’s decisive goal, and in the final against the USA (2-1).
Pele and Lamine surpassed Yamal
By winning the title with the Mexican national team, Mora became the world’s youngest player to win an important trophy in the men’s division at 16 years and 266 days.
He surpassed Pele, who became world champion with Brazil as a 17-year-old in Sweden in 1958, or Lamine Yamal, who was 17 when Spain won the European Championship in 2024. Another record for Mora, after he had already broken numerous records at club level at Club Tijuana.
What is Mexico coach Javier Aguirre doing?
Now Mora is hoping for a breakthrough on the biggest possible stage at the 2026 World Cup – and with him an entire country. Mexican national coach Javier Aguirre also thinks highly of the exceptional talent. It was not for nothing that he relied on the youngster in the knockout phase of the Gold Cup last year.
Aguirre is currently not sure whether Mora will be in the starting line-up against South Africa or whether his services are more in demand as a substitute. The only thing that seems certain is that Mexico will need Mora’s qualities over the course of the game and the entire tournament.
Memories of Mesut Özil
The 67-year-old Aguirre, who has the experience of three World Cup finals as Mexico’s coach, particularly appreciates the 1.77 meter tall Mora’s technique, carefree attitude and instinct. With his changes of direction when the ball is handled very closely, coupled with playful ease and absolute calm even in extreme pressure phases, the youngster is reminiscent of Mesut Özil in the early phase of his career. Or, if you want to make a more current comparison: to Lennart Karl. Mora acts very variably on offense. He usually starts on the ten, but also likes to move to the wings.
Of course, Europe’s top clubs have long since become aware of these abilities. There has already been speculation in the media about interest from Real Madrid, Arsenal London or Manchester City. But Gilberto Mora, whose father is also called Gilberto Mora and used to be a professional footballer, is only allowed to officially move abroad when he turns 18.
Gilberto Mora: “Believe in the World Cup title”
So there is still some time until then. For the first time, co-hosts Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup. Of course, it’s not just an absolute highlight for Mora. The super talent leaves no doubt about his goal. “I think we are favorites to win the world championship”he said in advance – perhaps there was also a hint of youthful carefreeness in there. “Especially because we’re playing at home.” So also, but not just because of the home advantage.
Viewed more realistically, reaching the quarter-finals like at the home World Cup in 1970 and 1986 would probably be a success for Mexico. Especially because the Central Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 seven times in a row from 1994 to 2018 and were already at the end of the group phase in Qatar four years ago.
One thing is clear: Gilberto Mora is ready and wants to contribute to a successful tournament in Mexico. And best of all continue to make history – be it as a starting eleven or as a joker.