Meet Gilberto Mora the 17 year old Mexico phenom
· Yahoo Sports
Gilberto Mora is still looking for his first goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the 17-year-old playmaking midfielder for Mexico has offered tantalizing glimpses of the looming era where he will be the face of Mexican soccer.
He has made history with his youth as the youngest Mexican and the second-youngest player ever behind Pele to start a World Cup match, and at some point in the future, Mora is expected to make history of a different kind if he transfers to a European club in what is projected to be the biggest sale ever in Mexican soccer.
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Here is what to know about the Mexico phenom.
How old is Gilberto Mora
Mora was born on Oct. 14, 2008, making him 17 years, 259 days old at the time of the win against Ecuador, where he started. To go through some milestones: when he played against South Africa in Mexico's World Cup opener, Mora became the youngest player ever to represent Mexico in a World Cup.
When he started against Ecuador, he became the second-youngest player ever to start a World Cup knockout stage match, behind only Pelé (17 years and 239 days vs. Wales in 1958).
How tall is Gilberto Mora
Gilberto Mora is 5-foot-6.
Gilberto Mora jersey
Gilberto Mora wears No. 19 for Mexico and No. 10 for Tijuana. WorldSoccerShop.com has a selection of his national team jerseys.
Gilberto Mora Mexico
The 17-year-old Mora came up through Tijuana's system as an attacking midfielder and joined their senior club in 2024. He has made 50 appearances and scored eight goals for the Xolos.
He began playing for Mexican age-group national teams in 2022 with the U15s. He made his senior club debut in a friendly in January 2025, making him, at 16, the youngest player in national team history. His first meaningful matches for Mexico came in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
He is the son of former professional player Gilberto Mora, who is now the U17 and academy coach for Tijuana.
Gilberto Mora transfer
Per FIFA rules, Mora can't play for a senior club outside of Mexico until he turns 18 in October. Widely circulated rumors have him set for a transfer to an English Premier League team in the winter 2027 transfer window, shortly after he turns 18.
Manchester United has already said they are not in the running for Mora because of the bidding war that will ensue, but teams linked to him include Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. He has also been linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Of note, he recently signed a contract with Tijuana that runs through June 2029. Of note, the deal includes a buyout clause valued at around $26.6 million. He is managed by agent Rafaela Pimenta, who is also the agent for Erling Haaland.
Gilberto Mora social media
Gilberto Mora has more than 3 million followers on Instagram. He has almost 500,000 followers on TikTok.
Gilberto Mora hometown
Gilberto Mora was born in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Chiapas, in the southeast of the country. At age 6, he moved to Tijuana when his father, Gilberto, accepted a coaching job in the Tijuana youth system, and he has lived there since.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meet Gilberto Mora the 17 year old Mexico phenom