Manchester United legend Norman Whiteside has an honourable place in World Cup history.
Norman Whiteside was renowned as a young prodigy at Manchester United before making his name for Northern Ireland at the senior level.
Scouted by Bob Bishop in Belfast, the same man who identified George Best for United, Whiteside quickly rose through the ranks at Old Trafford.
It still came as a surprise in 1982 when he took Pele’s record as the youngest player to play at a World Cup. That was before he went on to become an FA Cup hero at United.
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Norman Whiteside holds World Cup record since 1982
Standing at 6ft 2 inches, it’s nothing other than a fact to say Whiteside was bigger than Brazil legend Pele.
Eight days after turning 17, Whiteside became United’s youngest scorer – with a goal on his full debut against Stoke City.
Much to Whiteside’s surprise, he was then called up to the Northern Ireland squad by Billy Bingham for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
Whiteside was selected for the opening match against Yugoslavia to overtake Pele as the World Cup’s youngest player at 17 years and 41 days.
Pele, who previously held the record, made his World Cup debut at the age of 17 years and 234 days.
It’s a record Whiteside still holds to this day and it’s one he can be proud of because there have been great footballers from Northern Ireland who never played at a World Cup.
That includes Best and Jonny Evans.
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Norman Whiteside’s international stats
Whiteside didn’t have the career many hoped due to injuries, but he was still a fantastic footballer, who is still celebrated by United fans.
The former United midfielder earned 38 caps for Northern Ireland and scored nine goals.
In 1986, Whiteside featured at his second World Cup. He made three appearances in Mexico, scoring their only goal at the tournament – against Algeria.
Most of Whiteside’s goals for Northern Ireland were scored in competitive matches.
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