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Ibrahim Mbaye just did something no African footballer his age has ever done. The 18-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger scored for Senegal against France on June 16, 2026, becoming the youngest African player to find the net in a FIFA World Cup match.
At 18 years and 142 days old, Mbaye also claimed the record as the youngest Senegalese goalscorer in World Cup history. The goal came during stoppage time in Senegal’s 1-3 defeat to France at MetLife Stadium.
A World Cup debut to remember
Mbaye’s appearance at the 2026 World Cup was his first. He was selected for Senegal’s squad on May 21, 2026.
Born on January 24, 2008, in Trappes, France, to Senegalese parents, Mbaye represents a growing trend in international football of players raised in European academies choosing to represent their parents’ nations of origin.
The resume was already stacking up
Earlier in the same calendar year, he scored as the youngest Africa Cup of Nations goalscorer of the century for Senegal, achieving that milestone at just 17 years and 344 days old.
Before that, during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Mbaye became the youngest Frenchman to appear in the tournament when he was introduced in a match against Atletico Madrid.
His market value currently sits at approximately 30 million euros. The right winger joined PSG in 2025.
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