Gavi, the last Golden Boy: at just 18 he breaks records in the Spanish team and climbs an illustrious podium with Pelé

The dizzying rise of the Spanish Gavi had a golden moment this Wednesday in Qatar where, with a goal and an assist in the 7-0 win over Costa Rica, he wrote his name in the history of the “Rossa” and of the World Cup.

At 18 years and 110 days, Pablo Martín Páez Gavira ‘Gavi’ became The youngest Spaniard to debut in a World Cupsurpassing the score achieved in Germany-2006 by Cesc Fábregas (19 years), another ‘Made in’ La Masía midfielder.

His goal against Costa Rica also raised the jewel of Barcelona the third youngest goalscorer in all World Cupssecond only to Pele, who was 17 years and 249 days old at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, and Mexico’s Manuel Rosas.

In just over a year, Gavi went from being an unknown youngster at Barça to winning the award for best player under 21 and traveling to Qatar as a regular starter for Luis Enrique’s side.

Symbols of the renewal of the world champions team in South Africa 2010, Gavi and his inseparable partner Pedri escorted veteran Sergio Busquets into midfield on Wednesday and commanded the new version of a Spain who have so far achieved the biggest victory in this Cup of the world.

Faithful to his style, ready to roll up his sleeves as much as to take off his top hat, Gavi scored the first goal early on which gave Spain peace of mind, who didn’t want any surprises after seeing favorites like Argentina or Germany fail.

In the 11th minute the midfielder gave the magic touch to a brilliant Spanish combination to place Dani Olmo, who circled around the area with class and beat Keylor Navas one-on-one.

The Costa Rican midfield, with players with three World Cups in their legs like Celso Borges, could only follow Spain’s triangulations with its gaze. Gavi also received ovations when it was a question of recovering the ball and holding it, also taking in several strong crosses from his opponents.

At the break, Spain had 545 completed passes to just 72 for their rivals. In the second half, Luis Enrique refreshes the team but leaves Gavi installed, who adds to the defeat by scoring the 5-0 in the 74th minute with a precise right foot close to the post following an assist from Morata.

Gavi, owner of the number 9 of this team, had only one month earlier taken the stage of the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to receive the Kopa Trophy for the best young player in the world, awarded by France Football magazine, at the Ballon d’Or ‘O gala And just four days later, and also for being the best Under 21 in the world, he received the Golden Boy that the Italian media Tuttosport has been delivering since 2003.

The jewel was taken over in 2013 by some Barcelona scouts when he played for lower leagues Betis in a tournament in the Portuguese Algarve. He was chosen as the best player of the tournament and at the age of 11 he flew to Catalonia accompanied by his father, who had a bar in his hometown of Los Palacios and Villafranca.

He recently renewed with Barcelona through 2026 with an astronomical €1,000m ($989m) buyout clause.

Source: AFP