Caleb Yirenkyi Sets Ghana World Cup Record as youngest goal scorer
Caleb Yirenkyi announced himself on the biggest stage in spectacular fashion on Wednesday, scoring a dramatic late winner against Panama to become the youngest Ghanaian ever to find the net at a FIFA World Cup.
The midfielder’s stoppage-time strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory for the Black Stars in their opening Group L fixture at BMO Field in Toronto, handing Ghana a dream start to their 2026 World Cup campaign.
With the match seemingly destined to end goalless, Yirenkyi kept his composure in the closing moments to finish off a swift counter-attack and send Ghanaian supporters into celebration.
The goal was significant not only because it delivered three valuable points, but also because it earned the 20-year-old a place in the nation’s football history.
At 20 years and 153 days old, Yirenkyi surpassed a long-standing record previously held by Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan. The former Black Stars captain was 20 years and 207 days old when he scored Ghana’s first-ever World Cup goal against the Czech Republic at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
The achievement places Yirenkyi ahead of some of the country’s most celebrated World Cup stars, including Mohammed Kudus, who became Ghana’s third-youngest scorer when he found the net against South Korea at the 2022 World Cup aged 22 years and 118 days.
Yirenkyi’s strike also saw him become the 10th different Ghanaian player to score at the World Cup and added another chapter to the Black Stars’ growing history on football’s grandest stage. The goal was Ghana’s 19th overall at the tournament.
The memorable victory has placed Ghana in a strong position in Group L as attention now turns to a major test against England on June 23 in Boston.
