At Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Ciudad de México), Gilberto Mora made history by being the youngest Mexican soccer player to star in the World Cup game at 17 years and 240 days old. Gilberto Mora replaced Alexis Vega for Mexico against South Africa, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 65 minute. Mora is actually the 6th youngest player ever in a World Cup and is the youngest this year. According to undefined, only a handful of players younger than Mora have have previously starred in the World Cup: Norman Whiteside, Samuel Eto’o, Femi Opabunmi. As well as Salomon Olembé, and Pèle ,

Mora became the youngest player to represent Mexico in a World Cup match, broke a 96-year-old national record of youngest player to play for Mexico that had stood since the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay. Gilberto Mora generated massive media attention with his world cup breakthrough, but his job was a little slow and mostly supportive. The teen’s main job was to keep possession and slow the game down even as an attacking midfielder. He did not do bad at all, finishing all 14 of his passes.

Gilberto’s success caught the attention of national team coaches, helping him qualify for the Mexican World Cup team. In 2025, he was selected as the youngest player of the Mexican senior national team. Later, Mora helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Cup (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football). At 16 years old, Gilberto has also become the youngest player ever to win a international senior trophy. By the time he starred on a World Cup game, Mora had already played in 53 professional matches and scored 10 goals.