Johan Manzambi Shatters World Record with Historic Brace for Switzerland

In a remarkable display of talent, Swiss footballer Johan Manzambi scored two goals in a crucial match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, breaking a 24-year-old record. His performance not only secured Switzerland's first victory in the tournament but also made him the youngest player to score a brace as a substitute in World Cup history. This article delves into Manzambi's historic achievement and the significance of his goals in the context of the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 19, 2026, 06:07 IST

Historic Achievement by Johan Manzambi

Swiss footballer Johan Manzambi made headlines by breaking a long-standing world record during his team's 4-1 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This victory marked Switzerland's first win in the tournament after their earlier 1-1 draw against Qatar. Manzambi entered the match as a substitute in the 72nd minute, with the score still level at 0-0, and quickly made an impact by scoring just two minutes later, giving Switzerland a 1-0 lead. He then sealed the game with his second goal in the 90th minute, extending the lead to 3-0.

Manzambi's Record-Breaking Performance

With this remarkable feat, Manzambi became the youngest player in the 96-year history of the FIFA World Cup to score two goals as a substitute, surpassing a record that had stood for 24 years since the 2002 tournament.

Youngest Players to Score a Brace in FIFA World Cup as a Substitute

Player	Age	Team	Opponent	Year
Johan Manzambi	20 years, 247 days	Switzerland	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2026
Nelson Cuevas	22 years, 153 days	Paraguay	Slovenia	2002
Kai Havertz	23 years, 173 days	Germany	Costa Rica	2022
André Schürrle	23 years, 244 days	Germany	Brazil	2014
Fernando Morientes	26 years, 63 days	Spain	Paraguay	2002

Additionally, Manzambi became the third-youngest player to score in World Cup history for Switzerland, following Alfred Bickel and Charles Antenen, who were younger when they scored in previous tournaments. Notably, four of the goals in this match were netted by substitutes, including Ruben Vargas for Switzerland and Erin Mahmic for Bosnia, marking only the second instance in World Cup history where four goals were scored by substitutes in a single match, the first being in the 1982 game between Hungary and El Salvador. Furthermore, this match set a record for the first time in World Cup history where all five goals were scored after the 70th minute.