10 Youngest England Goalscorers in Football History

Wearing the iconic England shirt for the first time is a defining moment in any player's career. But for a select few, it takes less than a full game to make their mark, with four players having found the net on their international debut.

Scoring an early goal for the Three Lions can set the tone for a player's future, signaling their potential to be a key figure in the squad. Some of England’s greatest forwards, including second-all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney, struck in their teenage years before going on to become prolific for their country.

Here, Betimate takes a look at the top 10 youngest goalscorers in England’s history, spanning major tournaments, qualifiers, and friendlies.

10. Joe Baker

Age: 19 years, 5 months and 1 day

Joe Baker’s international journey is one of the most unique in England’s history. Raised in Scotland by a Scottish mother, he grew up identifying as a Scot. However, strict eligibility rules at the time meant he had to represent the country of his birth. When he made his England debut against Northern Ireland in November 1959, he became the first player to represent the Three Lions while playing outside the English Football League.

"I was the first Scottish League player to play for England, and it was a hard thing to take because I was a Scot, as far as I was concerned," Baker later admitted.

Despite the emotional conflict, Baker wasted no time making an impact. Just 16 minutes into his debut, the former Hibernian striker drove into the box and fired past Northern Irish goalkeeper Harry Gregg to score his first England goal. He also played a crucial role in the match-winning moment, assisting Ray Parry for a 90th-minute goal.

As his career progressed, Baker eventually moved to the English Football League, featuring for Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland. He finished his England career with three goals and three assists in eight caps.

9. Jude Bellingham

Age: 19 years, 4 months and 23 days

Jude Bellingham’s rise to the England senior team was meteoric, earning just four U21 caps before making his senior debut in November 2020. His impressive form at Borussia Dortmund made him impossible to ignore, and by the time the 2022 FIFA World Cup arrived, Gareth Southgate had no choice but to make him a key starter.

Despite being a teenager, Bellingham displayed remarkable maturity in Qatar, delivering performances that many overlook today. However, he made sure to leave his mark by scoring his first international goal in England’s 6-2 demolition of Iran. Rising high to meet a pinpoint Luke Shaw cross, he powered a header into the net to open the scoring.

It was a defining moment for the Stourbridge-born prodigy, showcasing his exceptional physicality and alerting the world to his talent. The following summer, Real Madrid came calling, fending off Liverpool and Manchester City to secure England’s brightest prospect. Since then, Bellingham has already added a La Liga title and a UEFA Champions League trophy to his growing collection.

8. Jimmy Greaves

Age: 19 years, 2 months and 27 days

Jimmy Greaves was one of England’s greatest-ever centre-forwards, scoring 44 goals in just 57 appearances—boasting the best goals-per-game ratio among the nation's top five scorers. The Tottenham Hotspur legend sits fifth on England’s all-time scoring list, and from the moment he made his debut, it was clear he would be a key figure for the Three Lions.

Still a teenager and establishing himself at club level, Greaves was called up shortly after his 19th birthday for England’s tour of the Americas. His first appearance came in a 4-1 friendly defeat to Peru in May 1959, but he made an immediate impact by scoring a consolation goal.

Despite England’s struggles on that tour—suffering defeats to Peru, Brazil, and Mexico—Greaves’ individual performances stood out, helping him escape the criticism directed at Walter Winterbottom’s side. He went on to feature at the 1962 World Cup and later earned a winners' medal in 1966, having played three matches in England’s triumphant campaign.

7. Micah Richards

Age: 19 years, 2 months and 15 days

Micah Richards emerged as an exciting young full-back, known for his blistering pace and physicality, earning his first England call-up at just 18 years old. The former Manchester City right-back became a dependable option under Steve McClaren, and nearly a year after his debut, he opened his international goal account in a 3-0 victory over Israel.

Richards powered home England’s third goal of the night at Wembley, rising to meet a well-delivered Gareth Barry corner with a commanding header. The goal bore resemblance to his dramatic injury-time header for Manchester City against Aston Villa in the FA Cup—his first-ever club goal.

The former Aston Villa defender earned 13 caps for England before retiring in July 2019. One of the standout moments of his international career was representing Team Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.

6. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Age: 19 years, 1 month and 27 days

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was tipped to be a long-term fixture in England’s squad after making his senior debut at just 18 in May 2012. With his versatility and technical ability, he seemed tailor-made for international football, but persistent injuries ultimately derailed his career at the top level.

Despite his setbacks, the former Liverpool midfielder remains one of England’s youngest-ever goalscorers. He opened his international account in a 5-0 win over San Marino during a 2014 World Cup qualifier, producing a composed finish into the top corner to become the Three Lions’ fourth scorer of the night. It was the first of seven goals in 35 caps.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s last England appearance came in 2019, and unless he experiences a late-career revival, it’s likely to be his final outing for the national team. He featured in all three group-stage matches at Euro 2012 under Roy Hodgson but was left on the bench as England crashed out to Italy in the quarter-finals.

5. Tommy Lawton

Age: 19 years and 16 days

Tommy Lawton was a dominant centre-forward renowned for his aerial prowess and lethal finishing, making him one of England’s most prolific strikers. Footballing legend Stanley Matthews hailed him as the best English striker of his era, and with an astonishing 22 goals in just 23 caps, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal marksman made his England debut shortly after turning 19, scoring a powerful penalty in a 4-2 friendly defeat to Wales. He would go on to represent the Three Lions for a decade, producing unforgettable performances, including four-goal hauls in an 8-2 demolition of the Netherlands and a 10-0 thrashing of Portugal.

Lawton played a crucial role in England’s British Home Championship triumphs in 1947 and 1948, as well as their shared title in 1939. While World War II interrupted his career, he remained a key figure for both club and country. However, a falling out with manager Walter Winterbottom led to his international exile at just 28, bringing an abrupt end to what could have been an even greater legacy.

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4. Marcus Rashford

Age: 18 years, 6 months and 26 days

Marcus Rashford was widely tipped to be Wayne Rooney’s heir at Manchester United when he broke into the England senior squad in 2016. As one of the Premier League’s brightest young talents, he quickly made history on the international stage—just as he had done with his club debut.

Starting on the left in a friendly against Australia, the Red Devils starlet wasted no time making an impact. Just two and a half minutes into the match, he pounced on a loose ball inside the box and struck a brilliant volley to mark his England debut in style, further cementing his meteoric rise at Old Trafford.

Rashford went on to represent England in every major international tournament from Euro 2016 to the 2022 World Cup. However, a dip in form for Manchester United saw him miss out on a place in the Euro 2024 squad, with Gareth Southgate omitting a versatile attacker who had contributed 17 goals and six assists in 60 caps.

3. Myles Lewis-Skelly

Age: 18 years, 5 months and 23 days

Myles Lewis-Skelly etched his name into the history books as England’s third-youngest goalscorer after netting in a 2-0 victory over Albania in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. Making his senior international debut, the Arsenal prodigy also became the first goalscorer of the Thomas Tuchel era—a dream way to announce himself on the big stage.

Having risen through Arsenal’s prestigious Hale End academy, the London-born left-back had already broken into Mikel Arteta’s senior squad. In a season plagued by injuries across the pitch, his emergence proved invaluable for the Gunners. His fearless mentality, showcased at club level, was on full display in his England debut.

With Gareth Southgate previously struggling to find a consistent option at left-back due to Luke Shaw’s fitness issues, Lewis-Skelly appears poised to stake his claim. If his rapid rise continues, he could be Tuchel’s first-choice left-back by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives.

2. Michael Owen

Age: 18 years, 5 months and 13 days

Michael Owen cemented his place among England’s greatest forwards, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2001—one of only four English players to achieve the honor. The Liverpool sensation had the world at his feet when he made his senior debut at just 18 in February 1998, and he quickly gave fans a glimpse of his potential by scoring his first international goal in May, sealing a 1-0 friendly victory over Morocco.

The Chester-born striker latched onto a ball over the top, surged forward with intent, and coolly slotted it home—an early sign of the devastating pace and clinical finishing that would define his career. He went on to score 40 goals for England, with many coming in similar fashion, exploiting defensive gaps in transition before delivering the final touch.

However, injuries took their toll, with a ruptured hamstring early in his career marking the beginning of his struggles. After leaving Liverpool, persistent fitness issues hindered his impact, but Owen’s legacy as one of England’s most naturally gifted strikers remains undeniable.

1. Wayne Rooney

Age: 17 years, 10 months and 15 days

Wayne Rooney remains the only England international to score before turning 18, and the Manchester United legend had a knack for rewriting history. When Macedonia took a shock lead on home soil, Rooney stepped up, latching onto Emile Heskey’s precise headed cutback before rifling a first-time strike into the net.

The former Everton prodigy would go on to etch his name in the record books, becoming England’s all-time top scorer in September 2015 before finishing his international career with 53 goals in 120 appearances. His record stood until 2023, when Harry Kane surpassed him, but Rooney’s legacy remains undeniable—an international career that saw him evolve into a deeper playmaking role in his later years.

Despite never winning a major tournament with England, a fact often used against him in all-time debates, Rooney’s brilliance was undeniable. He lit up Euro 2004 at just 18, scoring four goals in four games and announcing himself on the world stage. His leadership and all-around dominance would have been invaluable to England’s recent near-misses at the European Championships, as he was not just a generational talent but a proven winner.