The youngest goalscorers in FA Cup history

The FA Cup has always been synonymous with magic.

While that has generally referred to the underdog stories and giant-killings the competition offers, it could also allude to the remarkable individual narratives the FA Cup throws up.

The competition has often proved a stepping stone for England's youngest talents, announcing themselves to the nation with a bit of magic. We've seen some of the country's most impressive players provide such enchanting moments over the years, finding the back of the net early on in their FA Cup careers.

Here are the ten youngest goalscorers in FA Cup history.

10. Aaron Ramsey (17y 0m 10d)

Aaron Ramsey became the second-youngest goalscorer in FA Cup history when he netted on his debut in the competition with Cardiff City in 2008. While he has now dropped to tenth in the rankings, it remains a remarkable feat.

At just 17 years and ten days old, Ramsey's goal helped Cardiff avoid the mightiest of FA Cup upsets, the Bluebirds beating Chasetown 3-1 in the third round.

Chasetown, who were plying their trade in the British Gas Business Southern League Division One Midlands at the time, went a goal up against Cardiff, but Ramsey's header added to Peter Whittingham's strike to turn the tide.

Ramsey would go on to win three FA Cup trophies during his time with Arsenal, but it all began on January 5 2008.

9. Rony Lopes (17y 0m 8d)

Manchester City's fifth-youngest appearance maker, Rony Lopes, is also their youngest FA Cup goalscorer. The winger, who has turned out for Monaco, Lille and Sevilla since leaving England, netted in a 3-0 victory over Watford in 2013.

Lopes' second-half effort added to goals from Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry, but he would only end up making five appearances for City before departing the club.

Man City went on to reach the final of the competition that year, but endured a shock defeat to Wigan Athletic in the final.

8. Micah Mbick (17y 0m 7d)

Micah Mbick was rewarded for his first Charlton Athletic goal in the 2023/24 FA Cup with a first professional contract with the Addicks in December. The month before his deal he netted against Cray Valley Paper Mills, a tap-in to make it 6-1 in a first round replay.

The 17-year-old forward became the eighth youngest goalscorer in the competition's history, a brilliant achievement given he has just five senior appearances to his name.

7. Jonjo Shelvey (16y 10m 7d)

Charlton also boast the seventh youngest goalscorer in the FA Cup, that being former Addicks man Jonjo Shelvey. He would go on to play for Liverpool and Newcastle United, but life began for him at the Valley.

The midfielder netted just two months shy of his 17th birthday in a 1-1 draw with Norwich City in 2009 - one of three FA Cup goals across his career.

Shelvey never managed to win the competition, but did reach the final with Liverpool in 2012 where he was an unused substitute.

6. Theo Walcott (16y 9m 22d)

Theo Walcott boasts plenty of records having burst on to the scene for club and country at such a young age, the winger the sixth youngest FA Cup scorer.

His first goal in the competition came in 2006 and the Englishman was the youngest to ever score in the FA Cup when he netted in a 4-3 win over MK Dons during his time at Southampton.

Walcott would join Arsenal just two weeks later and he would go on to win three FA Cups with the Gunners alongside Ramsey.

5. Ryan Sessegnon (16y 7m 21d)

Ryan Sessegnon looked like the next big thing when he rose through the ranks at Fulham, especially when he netted at just 16 in the FA Cup third round against Cardiff.

The youngster scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory in 2017 on his FA Cup debut, finding the back of the net in the fourth round during a 4-1 win against Hull City as well.

However, the Cottagers would exit the competition at the hands of Sessegnon's future club Tottenham in the next round.

4. Dele Alli (16y 7m 2d)

Dele Alli sparkled from a young age at MK Dons, scoring his first senior goal in the FA Cup in 2012. The strike came in a 6-1 win against Cambridge City, the midfielder grabbing the fifth.

Alli has racked up 31 appearances in the competition to date, scoring five goals and providing seven assists for MK Dons and Tottenham - never managing an appearance for Everton in the FA Cup.

The Englishman did make it to the semi-final of the competition back in 2017/18, but Spurs lost to Manchester United 2-1, with Alli scoring the Lilywhites' goal.

3. Mason Bennett (16y 5m 21d)

Mason Bennett spent many a year at Derby County, netting his first FA Cup goal for the Rams in 2013 during a 5-0 third round win over Tranmere Rovers.

Bennett netted the fifth late on against Tranmere, but it's the only FA Cup goal the forward has ever scored, albeit he has only made ten appearances in the competition.

2. Alfie Devine (16y 5m 9d)

Alfie Devine became Tottenham's youngest ever appearance maker and goalscorer in the FA Cup in 2021, getting on the scoresheet in a 5-0 win over non-league Marine.

Following Carlos Vinicius' first-half hat-trick and Lucas Moura's free-kick, Devine was brought on after the break for Moussa Sissoko. It took the youngster just 15 minutes to open his Spurs account, cutting in from the right flank and firing a near-post shot past the goalkeeper.

The clash with Marine remains one of only two appearances the attacking midfielder has made for Spurs to date.

1. George Williams (16y 2m 5d)

The second MK Dons player in the top ten, George Williams is officially the youngest player to ever score in the FA Cup, doing so back in 2011 during a 6-0 win over Nantwich Town.

The seven-cap Wales international scored in stoppage-time during the victory, his only FA Cup goal to this day.

In fact, it's the only goal Williams scored for MK Dons despite making 22 appearances for the club, the forward now playing for Hemel Hempstead in the National League South.

Ten youngest FA Cup goalscorers

Data provided by Transfermarkt

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