Before the ball rolled at the Azteca Stadium, a scene between Julián Quiñones and Gilberto Mora stole the attention of fans and social networks.
During the pre-match ceremony, the boy assigned to accompany Mora was considerably taller than the 17-year-old midfielder, practically covering his face. Upon realizing the situation, Quiñones exchanged places with the young Mexican so that he could appear without problems during the anthems.
The gesture was applauded by the fans and quickly went viral on X, TikTok and Instagram, where thousands of users highlighted the camaraderie between both footballers and the good atmosphere that exists within the Mexican team.
Then came the prominence on the field. Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face England.
Mora responded once again with an outstanding performance in midfield and confirmed why he is one of the main revelations of the tournament.
Gilberto Mora continues making history
At 17 years and 259 days, Gilberto Rafael Mora Zambrano became the second youngest player to start in a World Cup knockout match, only behind Pelé, who was 17 years and 239 days old when he faced Wales in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
The soccer player, born on October 14, 2008 in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, also became the youngest player to debut for Mexico in a World Cup and has already added other milestones in his short career, including the 2025 Gold Cup title and his early debut in the Liga MX with the Xolos de Tijuana.
His father’s support
Mora is the son of former soccer player Gilberto Mora Olayo, who played for clubs such as Toluca, Veracruz and Jaguares de Chiapas. After retiring, he worked in the basic forces, where he contributed to the training of young soccer players, including his son.
Today, Gilberto Mora is establishing himself as one of the great promises of Mexican soccer and one of the names to follow during the 2026 World Cup.