Five of the Youngest Athletes in Professional Sports (2023)

History made in the USL

13-year-old Sacramento Republic forward Da’vian Kimbrough became the youngest athlete to appear in a professional soccer match in America on Sunday.

Kimbrough was subbed into a match against the Las Vegas Lights in the 87th minute. The California-born forward, who was 13 years, seven months, and 13 days old, broke the previous record of 13 years, nine months, and nine days set by Axel Kei after he featured for the Real Monarchs in October 2021. 

Sacramento won the USL Championship matchup in America’s second tier of soccer 2-0. Now that history has been set, here’s a look at the other youngest athletes in the world of professional sports.

Youngest athletes in sports

Kendry Paez

Just 22 days after turning 16, Paez made history as the youngest goalscorer in the FIFA U20 World Cup since the tournament was created in 1977. He set the record during a May match against Fiji, which ended in a 9-0 result for his native Ecuador. 

The previous record of 16 years, one month, and three days was held by Bahrain’s Mohamed Al Kharraz. It was a record that not even Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, or any other all-time greats could break.

already agreed to a transfer with English Premier League side Chelsea

Paez also scored in his professional debut for Independiente del Valle at age 15 and is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the world. He’s already agreed to a transfer with English Premier League side Chelsea and will join them when he turns 18.

Lamine Yamal

In September, Yamal set Spanish national records as the youngest debutant and goalscorer in a soccer match. He was only 16 years and 57 days old.

The teenager was included in Spain’s squad for the EURO 2024 qualifiers after impressing for Barcelona. He broke Gavi’s record for the youngest player to appear for Spain’s national team after he was subbed on for Dani Olmo in the 74th minute of a 7-1 drumming against Georgia.

His goal came after Nico Williams stormed down the left flank and smashed a low cross into the box. Yamal, standing unmarked, curled his shot into the far corner past the goalie’s outstretched arms, cementing his place in the history books.

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Jordan Walker

Walker made history this spring as the first player born in 2002 or later to take an MLB field. The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2020 first-round draft pick was less than two months away from turning 21 when he managed a hit and an RBI against the Toronto Blue Jays while starting in right field in his debut.

The young slugger earned his spot on the Cardinals’ opening-day lineup following two full seasons of hitting over .300 and slugging over .500 in Minor League Baseball. He was ranked as MLB’s number-four prospect and went straight from Double-A to the majors, a feat no Cardinals player had accomplished since Albert Pujols.

Walker finished the year with .276/.342/.445 batting splits and was fifth on the Cardinals with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs. Though much older than the other members of this list, he’s one of the best and youngest athletes in his sport. 

Hend Zaza

Though now a few years older, Zaza left her mark at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as one of the youngest athletes ever and the youngest in table tennis at the youthful age of 12 years and 204 days. 

The Syrian prodigy fell in her opening match to Austria’s Liu Jia in four straight sets, but did not dwell on the loss. 

“Reaching the Tokyo Olympics was already an achievement—I wasn’t asked to win, I was asked to play well,” Zaza said to Olympics.com after she was eliminated. “I think I had a good performance and I learned from the loss.”

Zaza, who carried her country’s flag during the opening ceremony, vowed to return to the Olympics in the future. She holds the title of the youngest Olympian since 1992.

Da’vian Kimbrough

The man of the hour. Kimbrough set an American record as the youngest athlete to sign with a professional team in a major sport when he put pen to paper in August. 

previously trained with Mexico’s U16 international team at the age of 11

Kimbrough scored 27 goals in 31 caps for Sacramento’s U13 team in 2021 and had previously trained with Mexico’s U16 international team at the age of 11.

The teenager, who is already listed at 5-foot-11, 155 pounds, has a chance to make more appearances before the season is over. Sacramento is already guaranteed a spot in the USL playoffs and sits three points clear of the Western Conference table with two games remaining.

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