Who is Gilberto Mora? Mexico pocket rocket has England upset in his teenage sights

Gilberto Mora
Gilberto Mora (Image credit: Getty Images)

Mexico have won four games from four at the 2026 World Cup and as co-hosts will have home advantage when England arrive in Mexico City this weekend.

The Three Lions squeaked past DR Congo, largely thanks to Harry Kane, in Atlanta on Tuesday, and will need to put on a better display in Mexico if they are to stand a chance of making the quarter-finals.

El Tri are yet to concede a goal at this summer's tournament, seeing off South Africa, South Korea, Czechia and Ecuador so far.

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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 11: Gilberto Mora of Mexico celebrates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

Gilberto Mora (Image credit: Getty Images)

England represent a different test altogether but Javier Aguirre's side will be full of confidence coming into this one.

The Mexican squad was depleted through injury in the lead up to the tournament but even without certain players, the team have not just coped but excelled.

Who is Gilberto Mora?

Gilberto Mora

Gilberto Mora (L) is half the age of veteran striker Raul Jimenez (R) (Image credit: Getty Images)

It has allowed the likes of 17-year-old Gilberto Mora to flourish, in particular during the Round of 32 game against Ecuador, in which he was given the nod to start by manager Aguirre.

Mora is the Mexican top flight’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer, and the national team’s youngest-ever debutant. He is also be the youngest squad member at the 48-team World Cup this summer.

The little attacker from Tijuana has been tearing it up for the Liga MX club, despite only recently turning 17 and is the epitome of the phrase: ‘It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog’.

Mora was one of the stars of the 2025 Under-20 World Cup, providing an assist in the opener against Brazil, bagging a brace versus Spain, scoring the only goal of the game against eventual winners Morocco, whilst adding another assist versus Chile in the knockouts.

Diminutive and flighty, always ready to take a shot on and never afraid to get stuck in, the injury-hit El Tri squad could yet find themselves relying on their teenage prodigy on the biggest stage of all.

Joe Donnohue
Senior Digital Writer

Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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