Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora breaks records set by Pelé and Lamine Yamal
Mexico claimed their 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title after a hard-fought 2–1 win over USA in the tournament final — their sixth victory over their North American rivals in eight Gold Cup finals.
But beyond the result, the match will be remembered for a piece of football history. At just 16 years and 265 days old, Gilberto Mora became the youngest player ever to start a senior international final in a major tournament — and he finished the night as a champion.
The teenage midfielder from Club Tijuana featured prominently for 75 minutes, displaying maturity and composure well beyond his years. In doing so, Mora shattered the record previously held by Lamine Yamal, who was 17 years and 1 day old when he started the UEFA Euro 2024 final for Spain. Mora also eclipsed the legendary Pelé, who was 17 years and 249 days old during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final, where he famously led Brazil to glory.
