La Liga is a talent-packed tournament, laying the groundwork for some of football’s greatest players to reach their peak. Lionel Messi made his debut in this league – at that time breaking the record as Barcelona’s youngest player ever. That record has since been surpassed multiple times as the league, and especially Barcelona, continues to push boundaries. Some young players continue to strive – considering themselves the greatest of all time. While others fail to live up to the hype they faced as youngsters. Each year, a new teenage sensation enters the hallowed field while still young. Most complete their schooling by age 16, but these La Liga players have entered history as the 10 youngest player in Laliga. Let’s explore further with bestsoccertips.com in the following article!
Top 10 Youngest Players in La Liga
10. Martin Odegaard (Real Madrid) – 16 years, 5 months, 6 days
When Odegaard joined Real Madrid from Stromsgodset IF, he was hailed as the next Messi. He featured in Norway’s senior team at just 15 – the youngest player in the nation’s history. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Odegaard struggled to adapt to life in the Spanish capital, making his debut in a 7-3 win over Getafe on the final day of the 2014/2015 season. Continuously touted as one of Europe’s brightest talents, he was expected to start regularly for Madrid.
However, due to strained relations with high-level management and several loan spells, he only made 11 appearances for the club. Odegaard now plays for Arsenal in North London – playing week in, week out for one of England’s top clubs. But the same question will always remain; what happened at Real Madrid?
9. José Antonio Reyes (Sevilla) – 16 years, 4 months, 29 days
This will be a nostalgic recall for fervent football fans of the 2000s, as week after week Reyes wreaked havoc in the Premier League for Arsenal. But before his time in North London, Reyes stepped onto the biggest stage for Sevilla, featuring in a 1-2 loss to Real Zaragoza on January 30, 2000. The winger came on for Nando in the 86th minute, and although brief, it marked the start of his career in southern Spain a year later.
Ultimately, he made 250 appearances for Palanganas, currently ranking him 13th on the all-time list. Reyes tragically passed away at the age of 35 in a car accident in 2019, but his impact on football is still felt, whether it’s with the invincible Arsenal or his boyhood club Sevilla.
8. Rafel Obrador (RCD Mallorca) – 16 years, 4 months, 25 days
As the world reopened in 2020, football in Spain resumed in the summer. With Real Madrid clinching the title, on the eastern island of Spain, Mallorca was providing opportunities for young players to etch their names into history. Three days after confirming relegation, Obrador featured in Mallorca’s 2-2 draw against Osasuna.
While this result meant little to the island’s fans, giving playing time to the left-back garnered attention for Mallorca. Obrador continued with Real Madrid’s youth team, where the 19-year-old regularly played for the U-19s. However, his future remains undecided.
7. Fabrice Olinga (Malaga) – 16 years, 3 months, 6 days
At the beginning of the 2012/2013 season, left-winger Olinga made his appearance for Malaga in a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo away from home. However, this wasn’t just a fleeting moment as the young player came on for Sebastián Fernandez in the 58th minute.
Most expected a young player to take time to make an impact, but he immediately shone on the biggest stage – sealing the win in injury time with a right-footed shot. The prodigy from the Samuel Eto’o Foundation continued his successful career, finding stability at Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium. Selected for the Cameroon national team at the 2014 World Cup, it was considered the pinnacle of his career.
6. Branislav Kubala (Espanyol) – 16 years, 2 months, 24 days
In a surprising historical upset, Kubala became the third-youngest player to be recorded in La Liga’s history at that time, featuring in Espanyol’s 1-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao on April 3, 1965. Despite playing the full 90 minutes in the Basque Country, the winger couldn’t bring success to his team in that match. Following that, Kubala’s career at Espanyol didn’t unfold as expected, and he left the club to seek new opportunities.
Born in the Czech Republic, he only made one more appearance for Espanyol before moving to play for various clubs across Spain, before finally embarking on a transatlantic journey to play for the Toronto Falcons and later the Dallas Tornado. It was a daring and challenging journey for Kubala, but it’s also part of the creative and persistent story of his career.
5. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 15 years, 9 months, 16 days
It’s hard to miss the teenage sensation shaking up La Liga in recent months. Often compared to Messi, Yamal carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he dealt with it decisively. Making his debut late on April 29, 2023, in a 4-0 victory against Real Betis, he became the youngest player to feature for Barcelona – breaking the previous record held by Ansu Fati.
But now, four months on, Yamal is a key figure in Xavi’s system, recently becoming the youngest player to provide an assist in La Liga history. Many players on that list failed to secure regular starting spots after promising teenage years, but with Yamal’s attitude, exemplified through his grateful celebration for his childhood, there’s no doubt he could become a standout figure for Barcelona.
4. Oscar Ramón (Real Zaragoza) – 15 years, 9 months, 15 days
In the annals of La Liga history, Pedro Irastorza’s name stands as a testament to youthful prowess and fleeting glory. Back in the early days of the league, on February 4, 1934, Irastorza etched his mark as the youngest player ever to grace the field. Selected by the seasoned coach Harry Lowe, his debut match for Real Sociedad against Barcelona, though ending in a humbling 0-4 defeat, marked the beginning of a journey into the spotlight. Despite the loss, Irastorza’s fleeting moment of fame would forever be enshrined in the league’s records.
Meanwhile, Sanson’s legacy in La Liga is a tale of resilience and enduring impact. Five years after Irastorza’s historic debut, Sanson carved his name into the league’s history books during a New Year’s Eve clash in 1939. His remarkable performance for Celta Vigo against Sevilla signaled the start of a promising career. Despite later departures and returns, Sanson’s enduring influence was felt throughout the league, serving as a beacon of success and contribution beyond mere statistics.
3. Pedro Irastorza (Real Sociedad) – 15 years, 9 months, 13 days
Going back 89 years, La Liga had only existed for 5 years, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Athletic Bilbao dominating major honors. However, on February 4, 1934, Pedro Irastorza touched personal glory by entering the record books as the youngest player in the league’s history.
Handpicked by 48-year-old coach Harry Lowe, that match ultimately became a forgettable memory for Irastorza and Real Sociedad as they suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat against formidable opponents Barcelona. Over the next 8 years, the Spanish winger made 30 outstanding appearances for Real Sociedad, but never truly overshadowed and shone as a star in the league.
2. Sanson (Celta Vigo) – 15 years, 8 months, 11 days
Just 5 years after Irastorza’s fame, Sanson’s name was deeply engraved in La Liga’s history books for over 80 years. Starting from Celta Vigo’s impressive 4-1 victory over Sevilla on New Year’s Eve in 1939, he began his career in glory, showcasing his outstanding abilities at a young age. Although he departed Celta Vigo in 1941, Sanson returned in 1951 at the age of 26, bringing with him over 75 matches of experience from Real Oviedo.
Despite scoring only one goal in his career, this defender proved to be a successful player with much more contributions than most of his peers. His record as the youngest player was only broken 3 years ago, a testament to his continued development and long-lasting influence.
1. Luka Romero (Mallorca) – 15 years, 7 months, 6 days
In the summer of 2020, as Mallorca fought relegation, Romero was brought in as a young talent with the potential to save the Spanish island from anything. But against Real Madrid, with just seven minutes left, the dream debut is always hard to come by, as they suffered a 0-2 loss at the Alfredo Di Stéfano training ground. Di Stéfano, renowned for utilizing young talent whenever possible, would be proud to know Romero was starting from the early days.
Relegation in La Liga Smartbank helped Romero gain more playing time before moving to Italian giants Lazio, shocking the football world. In the Italian capital, he rarely played but became the youngest player ever to debut for the club at the age of 16 – featuring in a 6-1 win against Spezia. In the summer of 2023, Romero joined football giant AC Milan on a free transfer, with many years ahead to make an impact at Milan.
Conclusion
The stories of Pedro Irastorza and Sanson, alongside Oscar Ramón’s fleeting moment, epitomize the diverse paths and enduring legacies woven into the fabric of La Liga’s rich history. From Irastorza’s youthful debut to Sanson’s resilient impact, and Ramón’s brief but memorable appearance, each tale contributes to the tapestry of the league’s narrative. These players, though divergent in their trajectories, share a common thread of leaving an indelible mark on the league, reminding us that in the world of football, every moment, no matter how fleeting, can etch itself into the annals of history.
