Kolkata, June 14 -- Pele remains the benchmark, winning a World Cup at 17 and being the youngest scorer in a final. Kylian Mbappe is next, doing that at 19. They may not go all the way, but three days into the 23rd World Cup, some young players have already given notice of their potential. And Lamine Yamal has not even begun.

Step forward Gilberto Mora and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Not much behind are Luc de Fougerolles and Nestory Irankunda. Mexico's Mora is 17, Moroccan Bouaddi turned 18 in October, and Canada's Fougerolles and Australia's Irankunda stepped into their 20s months before the tournament kicked off in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Turkiye's midfield master Arda Guler doesn't figure in this conversation because, well, he is 21.

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