Photos: Baby-faced ballers

Published: 8 Feb 2026

See photos of legendary players at their first FIFA World Cup™.

Photos: Baby-faced ballers

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PelePele

Brazil 17 years old at Sweden 1958

Fussball WM 1958 in Schweden. Pele Bras. im Trainingsquartier HM

Franz BeckenbauerFranz Beckenbauer

West Germany 20 years old at England 1966

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Hugo Sanchez Hugo Sanchez

Mexico 19 years old at Argentina 1978

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Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona

Argentina 21 years old at Spain 1982

Diego Armando Maradona Argentinien Fußball WM Herren Weltmeisterschaft 1982, Länderspiel, Nationalmannschaft, Nationalteam Porträt Nou Camp Barcelona

Lothar MatthausLothar Matthaus

West Germany 21 years old at Spain 1982

Fussball Fototermin Deutsche Nationalmannschaft in Frankfurt 01.03.1982 Lothar MATTHAEUS (Deutschland) FOTO: WEREK Pressebildagentur xxNOxMODELxRELEASExx

Football Photo call German national team in Frankfurt 01 03 1982 Lothar Matthaeus Germany Photo WEREK xxNOxMODELxRELEASExx

RonaldoRonaldo

Brazil 17 years old at USA 1994

Bildnummer: 01605918 Datum: 13.07.1994 Copyright: imago/Colorsport
Ronaldo (Brasilien) - PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxUSAxONLY; Vdia, hoch, Nationalhymne, Hymne, Spange, Zahnspange Weltmeisterschaft 1994, Nationalmannschaft, Nationalteam, Nationaltrikot, Länderspiel, Halbfinale Los Angeles, Pasadena Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft Porträt Randmotiv Personen

Samuel Eto’oSamuel Eto’o

Cameroon 17 years old at France 1998

Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon (Photo by Tony Marshall/EMPICS via Getty Images)

Thierry HenryThierry Henry

France 20 years old at France 1998

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Michael OwenMichael Owen

England 18 years old at France 1998

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Landon DonovanLandon Donovan

USA 20 years old at Korea/Japan 2002

Bildnummer: 00546771 Datum: 17.06.2002 Copyright: imago/Camera 4
Landon Donovan (USA) gibt Beifall; Vdig, quer, close, klatschen, applaudieren, Applaus Weltmeisterschaft 2002, Länderspiel, Achtelfinale, Nationalmannschaft, Nationalteam, Nationaltrikot Jeonju WorldCupStadium Fußball WM Herren Mannschaft Südkorea Einzelbild optimistisch Aktion Personen

Zlatan IbrahimovicZlatan Ibrahimovic

Sweden 20 years old at Korea/Japan 2002

OITA - JUNE 16: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Second Round match between Sweden and Senegal played at the Oita Big Eye Stadium, in Oita, Japan on June 16, 2002. Senegal won the match 2-1 with a golden goal in extra-time. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Park JisungPark Jisung

Korea Republic 21 years old at Korea/Japan 2002

INCHEON, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Korea's Park Ji Sung celebrates his 71st minute goal, 14 June 2002 at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, prior to first round Group D action between Portugal and Korea in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. Korea leads Portugal 1-0. AFP PHOTO/GREG WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images)

Lionel MessiLionel Messi

Argentina 18 years old at Germany 2006

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Luka ModricLuka Modric

Croatia 20 years old at Germany 2006

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Cristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo

Portugal 21 years old at Germany 2006

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Sergio RamosSergio Ramos

Spain 20 years old at Germany 2006

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Christian EriksenChristian Eriksen

Denmark 18 years old at South Africa 2010

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Toni KroosToni Kroos

Germany 20 years old at South Africa 2010

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 08: (MINIMUM PRICING APPLIES - MINIMUM FEE OF GBP50 OR LOCAL EQUIVALENT FOR ALL USAGES - PLEASE CONTACT LOCAL SALES OFFICE FOR ALL ENQUIRIES) Toni Kroos of Germany poses during the official Fifa World Cup 2010 portrait session at Velmore Hotel on June 8, 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Paul Gilham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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