World Cup - a few facts and figures

13th June 2010

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World Cup Facts

Diego Maradonna has captained the most matches for his country at the world cup, getting that lovely yellow armband 16 times.

The youngest ever player at the world cup was Norman Whiteside for Northern Ireland in 1982 at 17 years and 41 days.

The youngest player to appear in a final was Pele at 17 years and 249 days.

Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick for England against the Germans in the 1966 final remains the highest total of any player in one final.

Pele holds the record for youngest goalscorer at the world cup, youngest player to score a hat trick at the world cup, and youngest player to score in the final, doing it all in fine style at the 1958 tournament at the tender age of 17.

The oldest player ever at the world cup was Roger Milla for Cameroon at 42 years and 39 days (1994).

The oldest player to appear in a final was Dino Zoff (Italy) at 40 years and 133 days (1982).

Cafu (Brazil) has won the most matches as a player, having been on the winning side of a world cup match 16 times.

Pele has his name on the most world cup trophies, being a champion on three separate occasions (1958, 1962, 1970)

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