Teenage prodigy Gilberto Mora carved his name FIFA World Cup history after becoming the second-youngest player ever to start a World Cup knockout match as Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a knockout victory with a convincing 2-0 win over Ecuador in the Round of 16.At 17 years and 259 days, Mora joins an exclusive list headed only by Brazilian legend Pelé, who was 17 years and 239 days old when he started Brazil’s famous 1958 World Cup quarter-final against Wales. The sensational teenager played a key role in Mexico’s energetic opening spell as the co-hosts dominated Ecuador before goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez sealed a place in the last 16.
Mora joined Pele in exclusive World Cup history
Mora wasted little time to announce himself on the biggest stage. The youngster threatened twice inside the opening 15 minutes as Mexico burst out of the blocks after kick-off was delayed an hour due to poor weather conditions.According to FIFA, Mora is now only the second 17-year-old to start in the knockout stages of the World Cup since Pelé’s iconic performance for Brazil in 1958.The midfielder had already broken another national record earlier in the tournament by becoming Mexico’s youngest World Cup starter, further underscoring why he is regarded as one of the country’s brightest young talents. Mora’s rise was extraordinary. The Tijuana midfielder became the youngest player to debut and score in the Mexican first division at the age of 15, and later the youngest player to represent the senior national team at just 16 years old.
Mexico has finally ended its four-decade long knockout curse
While Mora won headlines with his record, Mexico celebrated an equally historic team achievement.Quiñones broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute after racing onto a perfectly timed ball before unstoppably slotting past Hernán Galíndez. Just nine minutes later, the striker turned provider by doubling Mexico’s lead for Jiménez.Mexico comfortably protected their lead after the break, with defenders César Montes and Johan Vásquez marshaling the back line superbly as goalkeeper Raúl Rangel wrapped up his fourth straight goal of the tournament.The victory marked El Tri’s first knockout win at the World Cup since beating Bulgaria in 1986, also 2-0, ending one of the longest unbeaten streaks in tournament history.Mexico will now face the winner of the clash between England and DR Congo in the round of 32 final, with a surge in confidence after ending a 40-year knockout drought.
