Despite Senegal’s defeat against France (3-1) in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, Ibrahim Mbaye made his mark on the evening in East Rutherford.
Coming on as a substitute with fifteen minutes remaining, the young Senegalese winger brought freshness and dynamism to the Lions’ attack.
In stoppage time, the Paris Saint-Germain player produced a moment of pure class. After dribbling past Theo Hernandez, he unleashed a powerful shot that beat Mike Maignan and allowed Senegal to pull one back.
At just 18 years old, Ibrahim Mbaye has become the youngest African goalscorer in World Cup history. He surpasses his compatriot Moussa Wagué, who scored against Japan at the 2018 World Cup when he was 19 years and eight months old.
A champion of Africa with Senegal in 2025, Wagué had already made history by becoming, before his 18th birthday, the youngest goalscorer in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Even more remarkably, the young Senegalese striker now ranks fourth among the youngest goalscorers in World Cup history, across all national teams. Only Pelé (17 years and 239 days), Manuel Rosas (18 years and 93 days), and Gavi (18 years and 110 days) have found the net at a younger age on the world stage.
