Top ten teenagers in World Cup history as Bellingham challenges historic top three

Jude Bellingham has established himself as one of the best teenagers in World Cup history, but it will take something remarkable to nab that top three.

10) Jude Bellingham This really is a placeholder. Bellingham has already established himself as one of the greatest teenagers in World Cup history, it's just a matter of how he and England fare from here. Their fates are linked for the next decade and a half, but particularly in Qatar, it looks like Gareth Southgate's side will go precisely as far as their youngest and brightest player can take them.

A goal and an assist only tell a fraction of the story. Bellingham have been a phenomenon in the England midfield, the driving force behind their relative march to the quarter-finals. It is hardly worth quoting one of the hundreds of influential voices who join the growing chorus of awe and amazement to see someone playing for England with such confidence, skill, poise, technique and conviction at any age, let alone 19. It will be an almighty battle for his signature, and absolutely right too.

9) Mario Kempes While most will associate Mario Kempes with the 1978 World Cup, where he inspired hosts Argentina to their first trophy as Golden Boot winner with six goals - including two in the final - he actually cut his teeth on the big stage four years before in Germany.

Kempes was the youngest player in the Vladislao Cap side by a full year, but was central to the manager's plans despite his relative insensitivity. Four goals in as many warm-up games against European opponents, including two in a 2-2 draw at Wembley, secured his place in the line-up. Kempes started all three games in the first group stage as Argentina finished second, then featured in every game of their less successful second group stage.

Failing to score in six matches, although he did register two assists, Kempes used that experience to storm the World Cup in Spain four years later.

8) Honorino Landa "Good evening. The game you are about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and shameful exhibition of football, perhaps in the history of the game," the player explained. commentator David Coleman who presented the BBC's highlights of the Battle of Santiago - an infamous group match between Italy and hosts Chile in the 1962 World Cup.

This was definitely not a place for the faint hearted; the first foul was committed after 12 seconds. The Italians had two players sent off in the first half. Leonel Sanchez threw a pair of punches in separate incidents, breaking Humberto Maschio's nose. Police intervention was required four times. Ken Aston, who refereed the game, was coincidentally the man responsible for introducing the red and yellow card system.

Honorino Landa, who turned 20 the day before, played his part. He was the player Giorgio Ferrini fouled on in the eighth minute which resulted in the Italian being sent off from the game. Landa played in the tournament's opener at 19 and started all of Chile's games as they dropped their way to the semi-finals only to be beaten by eventual winners Brazil.

7) Norman Whiteside Let's not dwell on what any of us were doing at 17 years and 41 days. Norman Whiteside has booked himself a boys' trip to Spain as part of a group of 22, including two players more than twice his age. Pat Jennings and Jimmy Nicholl were the designated pilots for a player who had just made his Manchester United debut before joining Northern Ireland for their first World Cup in two and a half decades.

Whiteside wasn't there to do some extras. He started all five games in a strong performance for Billy Bingham's side, who drew with Yugoslavia, Honduras and Austria and lost to France, but stunned the hosts with a famous win. In the process, the striker achieved something that remains inherently difficult: breaking one of Pele's World Cup records. Whiteside is still the youngest player to appear in the final.

6) Jonathan Mensah Not to be confused with Ghana captain John Mensah, his more formal counterpart impressed with one of the most iconic teams at the World Cup. Jonathan Mensah watched the Black Stars' first win against Serbia in 2010 from the bench, then came on to complete the group with a draw against Australia and a loss against Germany.

It benefited Mensah that aside from its namesake, John Paintsil and Hans Sarpei, the Ghanaian defense was otherwise relatively inexperienced. Isaac Vorsah, 21, started the tournament in the starting lineup, with just six caps...