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Since the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, Uruguay, the number of young players and countries from across the world competing for a spot in the World Cup has steadily increased. With the next World Cup in Russia in just under six months, players from the 32 countries who have qualified are battling it out to make their nation's World Cup squad.
With eleven venues across Russia hosting all the games during the one-month extravaganza, fans and audiences will flock to the venues to get a glimpse of the most event in the world.
The 32 participating teams are bound to contain a number of young and talented stars who will look to light the tournament up with their performances.
That being said, here we take a look at 5 of the youngest players to have ever played in a FIFA World Cup:
#5 Pele (Brazil)
Widely considered to be one of the greatest ever players to have graced the beautiful game, Brazilian legend and forward player, Pele, is 5th on the list of youngest ever players to compete in a FIFA World Cup tournament, doing so at the age of 17 years, 7 months, and 23 days.
A 3-time World Cup winner and possibly the greatest attacking player of the previous century, Pele is the most known footballer in the history of the sport. His first World Cup triumph was as a 17-year-old in 1958, as Brazil thrashed hosts Sweden by 5 goals to 2 in the final.
Pele made his debut earlier in the tournament against the Soviet Union in a game that ended 2-0 to the Brazilians. He won the World Cup again four years later in Chile and went on to claim his third World Cup trophy 8 years after Chile, in Mexico, in 1970.
#4 Saloman Olembe (Cameroon)
Former Cameroon and Marseille left-winger, Saloman Olembe is the fourth-youngest player to have appeared in a FIFA World Cup game. It was 1998, and Cameroon played Austria in a game that ended 1-1.Olembe made his debut at the tender age of 17 years, 6 months, and 3 days, and went on to make 64 appearances for his national side.
He began his professional career in France with Nantes in 1997 and was selected as part of the Cameroonian squad for the World Cup in France the next year. In his 13 years as a professional footballer, Olembe had short stints in England, Turkey and Greece while he spent most of his career in France.
He retired from the sport in 2010 and his two spells in England were on loan to Leeds United and Wigan Athletic, although he didn't take to the league and the culture.
But, Olembe created a unique landmark at such a young age and has gone down in football history as the fourth-youngest player to play a World Cup match.
#3 Feni Opabumni (Nigeria)
Nigerian youth prodigy, Feni Opabunmi made a lot of headlines in 2001 during the U-17 World Championships as he displayed some fantastic performances.
With a lot of people taking notice of the player, Opabunmi was selected for the country's World Cup squad, and made his debut as at the age of 17 years, 3 months, and 9 days in a game against England in Osaka.
The game ended 0-0 although Opabunmi was never called up to the national team setup thereafter. He made only 3 appearances for his country and retired from the sport after a gruesome eye injury cut short his career.
He began his career in France in 2001 and then moved to Greece and Isreal for short stint and called time on his career after 5 years at the age of 23. Opabunmi was a left winger who showcased some superb displays as a youngster although his career was cut short abruptly.
#2 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
Former Cameroon captain and multiple time African footballer of the year, Samuel Eto'o made his WC debut in 1998 in a 3-0 defeat to Italy, at the young age of 17 years, 3 months, and 7 days.
Eto'o began his career with Real Madrid in 1997 and was made part of the Cameroon squad in 1998 for the World Cup in France.
The Cameroonian went on to win almost every club trophy as a player and currently plies his trade for Turkish side Antalyaspor. After his stint in Spain with Real Madrid, Mallorca and Barcelona for the first 10 years of the career, Eto'o moved to Inter Milan and then moved to the Premier League with Chelsea and Everton.
A clinical striker with great ability with his feet and head, Eto'o remains the second-youngest player in FIFA World Cup history to play a game. The Cameroonian has been a part of four World Cups, and is only one of three African players to have done so after Jacques Songo and Rigobert Song.
#1 Norman Whiteside (Northern Ireland)
Former Northern Ireland and Manchester United attacking player, Norman Whiteside is the youngest player in history to make an appearance in a FIFA World Cup. During the 1982 World Cup, in Spain, Whiteside made his debut at the age of 17 years, 1 month, and 10 days in a game between Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland that ended 0-0.
Whiteside was selected as part of the national team setup for the World Cup, because of some brilliant displays for his club Manchester United as a 17-year-old. The player made an instant impact for United and went on to play seven seasons at the club till 1989.
A move to Everton was confirmed in 1989 as Whiteside spent two more years playing at the highest level with the Blues of Merseyside before calling time on his career.
Whiteside beat Pele's previous record for being the youngest ever player by six months, and to this day, holds this historic record that has never been surpassed.
