'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAmR3/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAH//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAB//xAAhEAABAwIHAQAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQISAAUEBhEhIiOi0v/aAAgBAQABPwBDWweSgGaI4bkV3S1jpjI2XOcqXFB13Qnj5r//xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAANR/9oACAECAQE/AFSMn//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMBAT8Af//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Pele (17 years, 8 months and 6 days)
It has been nearly four decades since Pele stopped playing professional football, but the Brazilian’s stature as the greatest footballer ever remains undisputed. If there is any marker in football history, it would have to be Pele.
The history of Brazilian football and the World Cups would have been much different had his teammates not persisted in ensuring that the then 17-year old Pele be selected despite a knee injury. Having been chosen to represent his country in the World Cup, Pele toppled record after record as he guided his team to its first ever World Cup win in Sweden.
Against Wales in the quarter-finals, Pele went on to become the youngest goal scorer in the World Cup finals before going on to score a hat-trick in the semi-final against France. By the time Brazil reached the final, the team, despite boasting stalwarts such as Garrincha and Vava, had become synonymous with Pele.
In the final, the expectations riding on the young shoulders of Pele was enormous. But, the legend showed no signs of pressure as he starred in Brazil’s thumping 5-2 win against Sweden in the final. Pele scored two goals in the final.
At 17 years, eight months and six days, Pele became, and remains, the youngest ever player to have won the Football World Cup.
