5 Youngest Players at the 2022 Qatar World Cup
Discover the list of the youngest players at the 2022 World Cup here. From Gavi to Moukoko, explore the profiles of future world football stars.
Youngest Players at the 2022 World Cup – m88worldcups.com – The World Cup has always been an event eagerly anticipated by millions of football fans across the globe.
It is not only about the quality of matches presented at the highest level, but this tournament often transforms into the main stage for the emergence of future stars.
One particularly interesting aspect is that media attention is not solely focused on experienced senior players. In every edition, there are always very young players who receive golden opportunities to showcase their abilities at the most prestigious level of football.
This situation also characterized the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The tournament, held from 20 November to 18 December 2022, featured a number of young players whose ages were still in their teenage years.
Despite only recently experiencing the intensity of professional competition, they had already earned the full trust of their coaches to carry the mission of representing their nations in a tournament of this magnitude.
On this occasion, we will thoroughly examine who the Youngest Players at the 2022 World Cup were and how they succeeded in breaking into their national teams’ main squads.
More than just a list of names, we will take a deeper look at their backgrounds, remarkable potential, and career journeys leading to this point.
Youngest Players at the 2022 World Cup
5. Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco National Team), 18 Years Old
Bilal El Khannouss delivered one of the most compelling narratives throughout the 2022 World Cup.
At only 18 years of age, his immense talent had already become highly visible during his time with Racing Genk in the Belgian League.
The attacking midfielder, who now plays for Leicester City, is known for his mature vision, ability to control the rhythm of the game, and passing accuracy that frequently unsettles opposing defensive lines.
Another interesting aspect is that El Khannouss actually had two nationality options, Belgium or Morocco. He was previously registered with Belgium’s youth national teams from U-15 to U-16 before ultimately choosing to represent the homeland of his parents, Morocco.
This decision proved to be highly appropriate, as Morocco performed exceptionally well at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semifinal and making history as the first African nation to achieve that stage.
Although his playing time was still relatively limited, El Khannouss’s inclusion in the squad demonstrated the level of confidence the coach had in his potential.
The valuable experience he gained in Qatar could become a solid foundation for his future. Many observers predict that he will soon develop into one of the most influential creative midfielders in Europe.
4. Youngest Player at the 2022 World Cup: Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica National Team), 18 Years Old
When discussing talented young prospects from Central America, the name Jewison Bennette certainly deserves attention.
Born on 15 June 2004, the agile winger was only 18 years old when he was called into Costa Rica’s squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Equipped with explosive pace, sharp dribbling ability, and strong confidence in one-on-one situations, Bennette quickly attracted public attention from the moment he made his senior national team debut.
Bennette played a highly crucial role in helping Costa Rica qualify for the final tournament in Qatar. He contributed significantly to helping his team collect 19 points from a possible 21 points in the qualification phase, an impressive achievement for a player of his age.
Not only at international level, Bennette’s club performances with Sunderland were also promising. He managed to record goals and assists in the Championship, which is recognized as one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
Although Costa Rica’s journey ended early at the 2022 World Cup, Bennette’s experience competing against major football nations such as Spain and Germany will certainly become highly valuable for his career development.
A number of analysts believe that, given his very young age, he has considerable room to develop into a major star and bring pride to Costa Rica in the future.
3. Gavi (Spain National Team), 18 Years Old
The name Gavi is certainly already familiar to football enthusiasts.
Despite only being 18 years old, the player born on 5 August 2004 had already become an important component in the midfield of both Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Gavi is known as a midfielder with seemingly endless energy, exceptional pressing ability, and highly refined individual technique. He is also equipped with a level of composure rarely found in players of his age group.
Under the tactical guidance of Luis Enrique, Gavi immediately secured a place in the starting lineup. He was even trusted to appear in crucial matches throughout the 2022 World Cup, working alongside Pedri, another talented young Spanish player.
Their partnership has frequently been described as a symbol of the revival of La Roja’s midfield regeneration following the end of the golden era of Xavi and Iniesta.
What makes Gavi even more special is his mentality. Despite his young age, he showed absolutely no fear in competing physically against opponents far more senior and experienced.
In addition, Gavi had already managed to place his name on the scoresheet for the senior national team before even reaching the age of 19.
His performances in Qatar further solidified his reputation as one of the best young midfielders in world football today.
2. Youngest Player at the 2022 World Cup: Garang Kuol (Australia National Team), 18 Years Old
Australia also did not want to miss the opportunity to showcase their promising young talent in Qatar.
Garang Kuol, a striker who was only 18 years old, was recorded as the youngest player in the Socceroos squad.
One unique aspect is that Kuol had actually never been registered as a starting player in domestic league matches when he received his national team call-up.
However, the outstanding performances he displayed as a substitute for Central Coast Mariners were more than enough to attract Newcastle United, a Premier League club, to pursue his signature.
Kuol is equipped with speed, agility, and sharp finishing instincts in front of goal.
Although his experience remained highly limited, Australia’s coaching staff identified substantial potential in Kuol to become a secret weapon from the bench.
Being called up to compete at the 2022 World Cup was certainly a massive achievement for a player whose professional career had only just begun.
Kuol’s life story also adds an emotional dimension to his journey. Born into an immigrant family from South Sudan, his life was marked by significant struggles.
He has now transformed into a source of inspiration for many young people in Australia and immigrant communities worldwide that major dreams can be achieved through consistent hard work.
1. Youssoufa Moukoko (Germany National Team), 17 Years Old
Among all the names mentioned, Youssoufa Moukoko was perhaps the figure who attracted the most global attention.
The Borussia Dortmund star was born on 20 November 2004, and exactly one day after celebrating his 18th birthday, he had already made his debut at the 2022 World Cup with the Germany national team.
Based on this record, Moukoko was officially recognized as the Youngest Player at the 2022 World Cup.
Since his teenage years, Moukoko had frequently been featured in headlines due to his extraordinary scoring records at youth level with Dortmund.
He was even recorded as scoring hundreds of goals before reaching the age of 16, an achievement that led many media outlets to label him as a “true wonderkid.”
At senior professional level, Moukoko also did not require much time to adapt.
During the 2022/23 season with Dortmund, he had already become an important attacking figure and repeatedly scored decisive goals.
Hansi Flick’s decision to include Moukoko in Germany’s squad demonstrated the magnitude of expectations surrounding his potential.
Despite his young age, he was already trusted to compete for places alongside established names such as Thomas Müller and Kai Havertz.
Very few players are capable of reaching that level of competition at the age of 17.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that many believe Moukoko has the potential to become a major star in the future, and possibly a new icon of German football.
The collection of names in this Youngest Players at the 2022 World Cup list is clear evidence that football never stops producing new stars.
From Bilal El Khannouss choosing to represent Morocco to Youssoufa Moukoko becoming the youngest player in the tournament, all of them prove that young talent will always have a place on the biggest stage.
Although still lacking experience, they possess great courage to perform, the ability to withstand public pressure, and the confidence to compete against senior players with established reputations.
The valuable experience gained while competing in Qatar will undoubtedly become an important lesson for their future careers.
It is entirely possible that from this group of young players, one may eventually develop into a major legend.
So, in your view, among these five young players, who has the greatest potential to dominate world football in the future?