Matt Busby once famously said: “If they are good enough, they are old enough,” and for New York City FC, they must have seen something 14-year-old Maximo Carrizo.
The MLS franchise this week announced that the 2008-born (just even saying that feels illegal) has signed a contract with the reigning American champions, becoming the youngest player in the history of football in America to turn professional, beating Football Manager icon Freddy Adu.
Indeed, football has seen some young guns take the sport by storm from Kylian Mbappe’s introduction to the world for AS Monaco at just 17-years-old to the legendary Pele dragging Brazil to their first World Cup victory at a similar age.
So, to highlight NYCFC making history in America, we look at five records broken by youngsters in football, including one that was broken in the Premier League fairly recently to an accolade that might never be topped.
Youngest Premier League player – Harvey Elliott
If you were to take a random guess at who the youngest Premier League player ever was, you might drum up suggestions such as Wayne Rooney or Theo Walcott. However, that record actually lies with Liverpool star Harvey Elliott.
The now 18-year-old midfielder made his first Premier League appearance for Fulham back in the 2018/19 season just 30 days after turning 16, with the Jurgen Klopp favourite featuring in the EFL Cup earlier that campaign at just 15-years-old.
Elliott might just be starting his career, but the England youth international already has a place in English football history with his debut appearance for Fulham back in 2019.
Youngest professional player – Mauricio Baldivieso
Nepotism can get you far in life, and for Mauricio Baldivieso, it won the Bolivian midfielder a spot in football’s record books as the youngest player to ever play a professional game at a ridiculous 12-years-old.
The now 25-year-old Club San Jose star became the youngest player ever to play professional football when his father, Julio Baldivieso, who managed Club Aurora at the time, sent his plucky son on as a late substitute against La Paz on 19 July 2009.
Aurora might have lost the match, but Baldivieso earned himself a spot in football history that might likely never be broken.
Youngest England international – Theo Walcott
Walcott has already earned a mention on this list, and the Southampton star now has his own spot with the winger the youngest player to ever represent England at senior level, a record that still stands today even with the likes of Elliott and Jude Bellingham breaking through.
Then a fresh-faced prospect for Arsenal after being signed by Arsene Wenger from Southampton, Walcott was a regular for the Three Lions, earning 47 caps and also becoming the youngest English player to score a hat-trick.
The attacker remains a cult hero at the Emirates Stadium after wearing the no. 14 shirt with pride from Thierry Henry’s departure from the club, yet it won’t be long before Walcott’s England appearance record is broken given the quality of talent now coming through.
Youngest international player – Abdinur Mohamud
We’re really getting into the thick of things here with Abdinur Mohamud’s entry as the youngest player to ever play in an international fixture recognised by FIFA.
Whilst there is some dispute over the date on which the Somalia international actually played his record-playing game, Mohamud’s accolade still stands, with the midfielder playing for the African nation at just 13-years-old.
Still currently playing in the Somali First Division, Mohamud’s record has stood for the good part of 11 years, and with FIFA tightening age restrictions on international fixtures, it might take some before this record is broken.
Youngest player to play in a World Cup – Norman Whiteside
With players turning professional younger than ever, it’s still quite incredible that former Northern Ireland international and Manchester United striker Norman Whiteside is still the youngest player to ever play in a World Cup.
Starring for Northern Ireland in the 1982 World Cup, Whiteside’s record incredibly still stands nearly 40 years later, yet that is not the only accolade the former Everton player also has on his CV.
Whiteside remains the youngest player to ever score a senior goal for United as well as the youngest player to score in a League Cup and FA Cup final. Decades on from the striker’s retirement, it is incredible none of these records are yet to be broken.
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