Young Age and World Cup

Out of the 736 players in South Africa who come from all over the world to compete for the World trophy, only 7 are under 20 years of age. Generally speaking, a professional soccer player reaches his or her maturity level when they are between 25-35. It's not that easy for a young kid to make it to the elite level of world soccer. 


However, in South Africa 2010, the two youngest players of the tournament might face each other off provided their coaches include them in their line ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (midfielder), and Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), are both 18 and ready to be on the pitch on June 19 for what could be called "The Clash of the Kids." Eriksen,
born 13 days later than Aboubakar, is the baby of the World Cup. He plays in Ajax, a Dutch club with a glorious history. The Cameroonian kid is still at home playing for the local Coton
Sport (there's no misspelling here. Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. His club doesn't need an extra
"t" on its logo).

Speaking of kids, some of the managed to convince their soccer moms to let them go on bigger adventures as soon as they celebrated their 17th birthdays. The youngest player ever to be on the pitch in the course of a World Cup is Norman Whiteside. He was 17 when he was part of the Northern Ireland squad facing Yugoslavia in Spain'1982 Cup. Final score: 0-0. The other kid, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, took full advantage of his youth, unmatched skills and God given soccer wisdom that propelled him to the world throne of soccer. I'm telling you about one of the greatest: the king, Brazil's Pelé who remains the youngest player ever to play a final and the youngest to be a champion. He scored twice to give Brazil a 5-2 victory over Sweden and its first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Your very own Landon Donovan was awarded the FIFA's Best Young Player Award in the World Cup of 2002, in Korea-Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the producer of one the finest soccer on display nowadays. There's another record for the US: the youngest captain. History says that such distinction goes to Tony Meola, who was a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the US facing Czechoslovakia to a heart breaking 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy'1990.

It's not that easy, but it's not impossible to bring the world to its knees when you're that young. Next time around, Brazil'2014, a few of you will be 17 or less and it won't come as surprise if your skills will be there reinforcing the US squad. But in the meantime you'd better enjoy your summer, make some pennies flipping burgers, and do y

Out of the 736 players in South Africa who come from all over the world to compete for the World trophy, only 7 are under 20 years of age. Generally speaking, a professional soccer player reaches his or her maturity level when they are between 25-35. It's not that easy for a young kid to make it to the elite level of world soccer. 


However, in South Africa 2010, the two youngest players of the tournament might face each other off provided their coaches include them in their line ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (midfielder), and Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), are both 18 and ready to be on the pitch on June 19 for what could be called "The Clash of the Kids." Eriksen,
born 13 days later than Aboubakar, is the baby of the World Cup. He plays in Ajax, a Dutch club with a glorious history. The Cameroonian kid is still at home playing for the local Coton
Sport (there's no misspelling here. Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. His club doesn't need an extra
"t" on its logo).

Speaking of kids, some of the managed to convince their soccer moms to let them go on bigger adventures as soon as they celebrated their 17th birthdays. The youngest player ever to be on the pitch in the course of a World Cup is Norman Whiteside. He was 17 when he was part of the Northern Ireland squad facing Yugoslavia in Spain'1982 Cup. Final score: 0-0. The other kid, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, took full advantage of his youth, unmatched skills and God given soccer wisdom that propelled him to the world throne of soccer. I'm telling you about one of the greatest: the king, Brazil's Pelé who remains the youngest player ever to play a final and the youngest to be a champion. He scored twice to give Brazil a 5-2 victory over Sweden and its first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Your very own Landon Donovan was awarded the FIFA's Best Young Player Award in the World Cup of 2002, in Korea-Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the producer of one the finest soccer on display nowadays. There's another record for the US: the youngest captain. History says that such distinction goes to Tony Meola, who was a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the US facing Czechoslovakia to a heart breaking 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy'1990.

It's not that easy, but it's not impossible to bring the world to its knees when you're that young. Next time around, Brazil'2014, a few of you will be 17 or less and it won't come as surprise if your skills will be there reinforcing the US squad. But in the meantime you'd better enjoy your summer, make some pennies flipping burgers, and do y

Out of the 736 players in South Africa who come from all over the world to compete for the World trophy, only 7 are under 20 years of age. Generally speaking, a professional soccer player reaches his or her maturity level when they are between 25-35. It's not that easy for a young kid to make it to the elite level of world soccer. 


However, in South Africa 2010, the two youngest players of the tournament might face each other off provided their coaches include them in their line ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (midfielder), and Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), are both 18 and ready to be on the pitch on June 19 for what could be called "The Clash of the Kids." Eriksen,
born 13 days later than Aboubakar, is the baby of the World Cup. He plays in Ajax, a Dutch club with a glorious history. The Cameroonian kid is still at home playing for the local Coton
Sport (there's no misspelling here. Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. His club doesn't need an extra
"t" on its logo).

Speaking of kids, some of the managed to convince their soccer moms to let them go on bigger adventures as soon as they celebrated their 17th birthdays. The youngest player ever to be on the pitch in the course of a World Cup is Norman Whiteside. He was 17 when he was part of the Northern Ireland squad facing Yugoslavia in Spain'1982 Cup. Final score: 0-0. The other kid, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, took full advantage of his youth, unmatched skills and God given soccer wisdom that propelled him to the world throne of soccer. I'm telling you about one of the greatest: the king, Brazil's Pelé who remains the youngest player ever to play a final and the youngest to be a champion. He scored twice to give Brazil a 5-2 victory over Sweden and its first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Your very own Landon Donovan was awarded the FIFA's Best Young Player Award in the World Cup of 2002, in Korea-Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the producer of one the finest soccer on display nowadays. There's another record for the US: the youngest captain. History says that such distinction goes to Tony Meola, who was a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the US facing Czechoslovakia to a heart breaking 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy'1990.

It's not that easy, but it's not impossible to bring the world to its knees when you're that young. Next time around, Brazil'2014, a few of you will be 17 or less and it won't come as surprise if your skills will be there reinforcing the US squad. But in the meantime you'd better enjoy your summer, make some pennies flipping burgers, and do y

Out of the 736 players in South Africa who come from all over the world to compete for the World trophy, only 7 are under 20 years of age. Generally speaking, a professional soccer player reaches his or her maturity level when they are between 25-35. It's not that easy for a young kid to make it to the elite level of world soccer. 


However, in South Africa 2010, the two youngest players of the tournament might face each other off provided their coaches include them in their line ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (midfielder), and Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), are both 18 and ready to be on the pitch on June 19 for what could be called "The Clash of the Kids." Eriksen,
born 13 days later than Aboubakar, is the baby of the World Cup. He plays in Ajax, a Dutch club with a glorious history. The Cameroonian kid is still at home playing for the local Coton
Sport (there's no misspelling here. Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. His club doesn't need an extra
"t" on its logo).

Speaking of kids, some of the managed to convince their soccer moms to let them go on bigger adventures as soon as they celebrated their 17th birthdays. The youngest player ever to be on the pitch in the course of a World Cup is Norman Whiteside. He was 17 when he was part of the Northern Ireland squad facing Yugoslavia in Spain'1982 Cup. Final score: 0-0. The other kid, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, took full advantage of his youth, unmatched skills and God given soccer wisdom that propelled him to the world throne of soccer. I'm telling you about one of the greatest: the king, Brazil's Pelé who remains the youngest player ever to play a final and the youngest to be a champion. He scored twice to give Brazil a 5-2 victory over Sweden and its first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Your very own Landon Donovan was awarded the FIFA's Best Young Player Award in the World Cup of 2002, in Korea-Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the producer of one the finest soccer on display nowadays. There's another record for the US: the youngest captain. History says that such distinction goes to Tony Meola, who was a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the US facing Czechoslovakia to a heart breaking 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy'1990.

It's not that easy, but it's not impossible to bring the world to its knees when you're that young. Next time around, Brazil'2014, a few of you will be 17 or less and it won't come as surprise if your skills will be there reinforcing the US squad. But in the meantime you'd better enjoy your summer, make some pennies flipping burgers, and do y

Out of the 736 players in South Africa who come from all over the world to compete for the World trophy, only 7 are under 20 years of age. Generally speaking, a professional soccer player reaches his or her maturity level when they are between 25-35. It's not that easy for a young kid to make it to the elite level of world soccer. 


However, in South Africa 2010, the two youngest players of the tournament might face each other off provided their coaches include them in their line ups. Christian Eriksen, from Denmark (midfielder), and Vincent Aboubakar, from Cameroon (forward), are both 18 and ready to be on the pitch on June 19 for what could be called "The Clash of the Kids." Eriksen,
born 13 days later than Aboubakar, is the baby of the World Cup. He plays in Ajax, a Dutch club with a glorious history. The Cameroonian kid is still at home playing for the local Coton
Sport (there's no misspelling here. Aboubakar and his fellow Cameroonians speak French. His club doesn't need an extra
"t" on its logo).

Speaking of kids, some of the managed to convince their soccer moms to let them go on bigger adventures as soon as they celebrated their 17th birthdays. The youngest player ever to be on the pitch in the course of a World Cup is Norman Whiteside. He was 17 when he was part of the Northern Ireland squad facing Yugoslavia in Spain'1982 Cup. Final score: 0-0. The other kid, also 17 but 208 days older than Whiteside, took full advantage of his youth, unmatched skills and God given soccer wisdom that propelled him to the world throne of soccer. I'm telling you about one of the greatest: the king, Brazil's Pelé who remains the youngest player ever to play a final and the youngest to be a champion. He scored twice to give Brazil a 5-2 victory over Sweden and its first world title.

Closer to home, young players are the norm. Your very own Landon Donovan was awarded the FIFA's Best Young Player Award in the World Cup of 2002, in Korea-Japan. A world class magician with a ball at his feet, Donovan is the producer of one the finest soccer on display nowadays. There's another record for the US: the youngest captain. History says that such distinction goes to Tony Meola, who was a 21 yr old goalkeeper and captain of the US facing Czechoslovakia to a heart breaking 1-5 loss in the World Cup of Italy'1990.

It's not that easy, but it's not impossible to bring the world to its knees when you're that young. Next time around, Brazil'2014, a few of you will be 17 or less and it won't come as surprise if your skills will be there reinforcing the US squad. But in the meantime you'd better enjoy your summer, make some pennies flipping burgers, and do y