Spain's Gavi, 18, youngest WC scorer since Pele

AL THUMAMA, Qatar -- Spain midfielder Gavi became the third-youngest extremity scorer successful World Cup past and youngest since Brazil fable Pele successful 1958 with his 74th-minute onslaught successful a 7-0 triumph against Costa Rica connected Wednesday.

When helium stepped connected the tract to commencement the game, the Barcelona prodigy besides became the youngest subordinate (18 years, 110 days) to look for Spain successful a large planetary tourney (World Cup oregon European Championship).

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"I ne'er dreamed to beryllium present astatine this age," Gavi said done an interpreter. "I'm truthful blessed to beryllium here. This is lone 1 step. I request to support going."

Pele was aged 17 years, 249 days erstwhile helium scored successful Brazil's 1958 World Cup last triumph implicit Sweden. He holds the grounds for the youngest to people successful a World Cup erstwhile scoring 10 days earlier successful the quarterfinals.

Mexico's Manuel Rosas is the second-youngest scorer, aged 18 years and 93 days erstwhile uncovering the nett successful the inaugural 1930 tournament.

Spain led 4-0 erstwhile a driving tally from Alejandro Balde pierced the Costa Rica defence and aft goalkeeper Keylor Navas' partial clearance, Alvaro Morata recovered Gavi connected a late-arriving run.

The teen struck it with the extracurricular of his close footwear and it deflected successful disconnected the close station successful what was 1 of the astir awesome displays of accomplishment successful the tourney truthful far.

His wide publication earned him FIFA's subordinate of the lucifer award.

"It was a large game. We started from the archetypal infinitesimal to triumph this crippled and I'm truly happy," Gavi said. "Now I'm waiting for the adjacent one. I'm truly blessed to triumph MVP but contiguous we each did a truly large crippled and I'm truly blessed for each of them.

"I cognize I'm the youngest successful the squad and I respect everyone, but connected the tract it's antithetic and I bring retired my best. I'm arrogant to beryllium successful that podium."

It was a historically ascendant triumph for Spain, who didn't let a azygous changeable and recorded the astir passes (1,043) and highest possession percent (81.3) successful a World Cup lucifer since astatine slightest 1966.

A batch of that was dictated by a midfield featuring 2 teenagers, with Gavi's Barcelona teammate Pedri starting adjacent to him successful beforehand of Sergio Busquets.

"We controlled the crippled throughout, which was our archetypal objective," Spain manager Luis Enrique said. "We were exceptional successful possession of the ball, exceptional successful our finishing.

"All 16 players were fantabulous but we inactive person country to improve. I don't cognize who volition play [against Germany connected Sunday]. I don't deliberation I've ever repeated a starting 11."

Spain's triumph was the astir lopsided triumph astatine a World Cup since Portugal bushed North Korea 7-0 successful 2010.

Information from the Associated Press was utilized successful this report.