With the France forward having become the first teenager since Pele to net twice in a World Cup game, Goal looks back at other prodigious talents
GettyGeorge Best
George Best had already won a First Division title with Manchester United but the winger only became a true superstar at the age of 19 after a stunning performance against Benfica in the European Cup in 1966 that earned him the nickname 'The fifth Beatle'. Fondly remembered as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen – despite walking away from top-flight football at 27 – it is impossible not to wonder about what might have been had alcohol not consumed the Northern Irishman's life. "I was born with a great gift," he later mused, "and sometimes with that comes a destructive streak. Just as I wanted to outdo everyone when I played, I had to outdo everyone when we were out on the town."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesGianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon achieved instant fame across the footballing world in 1995 by producing a string of sensational saves to keep the mighty AC Milan at bay on his Parma debut, aged 17. Over two decades on, the goalkeeping icon is still going strong and, despite having 40 in January, the Juventus captain is now seriously considering postponing his retirement for another year. That is hardly unsurprising of course, since he once revealed in his ode to the game, "I was 12 when I turned my back on my goal. And I will keep doing it as long as my legs, my head and my heart will allow."
Getty ImagesJohan CruyffJohan Cruyff is quite simply the most influential figure in football history. Nobody has ever changed the game so radically both as a player and a coach. Cruyff understood the game like no other, and from such a young age too. He was just 17 when he broke into the Ajax team and yet, as legendary coach Vic Buckingham explained, "He showed us how to play. He was so mature. He was such a skinny little kid but he had immense stamina and he could do everything… God's gift to mankind in a football sense. That was Johan. And such a nice kid too."Offside SportsDuncan EdwardsDespite the fact that he was just 21 when he died in the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, Duncan Edwards had already established himself as one of the most remarkable talents the English game had ever seen. A defensive midfielder who was also excellent going forward, he became the youngest player in First Division history when making his Manchester United debut at 16 years and 185 days old. Sadly, the football world would never discover just how great Edwards was going to be but former Red Devils boss Tommy Docherty claimed: "George Best was something special, as was Pelé and Maradona but, in my mind, Duncan was much better in terms of all-round ability and skill."