Spain starlet Gavi will make history again when he takes to the pitch for his country’s World Cup 2022 last 16 clash with Morocco on Tuesday.
The Barcelona midfielder will become the youngest player to start a knockout match at the World Cup since Pele in 1958.
Gavi is 18 years, 123 days old, while Pele was 17 years, 249 days old when he scored twice in Brazil’s 5-2 win over Sweden in the 1958 final.
The Brazilian legend, who sent his compatriots a good luck message this week while he receives medical treatment in hospital, set the standard for any aspiring youngsters.
Gavi is as close as anyone has come to matching Pele’s records, as he also became the youngest World Cup goalscorer since Pele in 1958 when he scored in Spain’s 7-0 win over Costa Rica.
The youngster was named in Luis Enrique’s starting line-up for the clash with Morocco alongside Sergio Busquets and Pedri in an all-Barcelona midfield.
Spain finished second in Group E behind Japan to set up their clash with Group F winners Morocco.
If they progress, they will face Portugal or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
