On This Day: Golden Boy Mbappe born; Messi & Suarez fired Barca to 3rd CWC title

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (December 20th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On this day in 1998, Golden Boy Kylian Mbappe born

Mbappé came into prominence at an early age, starring for the youth academy at Bondy before gaining a move to Monaco, where he made his professional debut in 2015, aged 16.

Mbappé then quickly established himself as a regular goalscorer for the first team in the 2016–17 season, as he helped the club gain their first Ligue 1 title in seventeen years. A year later, he transferred to PSG for €180 million, making him the most expensive teenager. In his debut season in the French capital, Mbappé featured heavily as the club captured a domestic treble of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue.

Mbappé made his senior debut for France in 2017. At the 2018 World Cup, Mbappé became the youngest French player to score at a World Cup, and became the second teenager, after Pelé, to score in a World Cup Final. He finished as the joint second-highest goalscorer as France won the tournament, and received the Best Young Player Award for his performances.

On this day in 2015, Messi & Suarez scored as Barca won 3rd Club World Cup

A goal from Lionel Messi and a double from Luis Suarez saw Barcelona beat River Plate 3-0 in Yokohama, Japan, to win the FIFA Club World Cup.

Messi opened the scoring 10 minutes before the end of a difficult first half for Barcelona, who were tested by River's intensity, but the European champions struck again early in the second period through Suarez, and the Uruguayan sealed their third world title by heading home a cross from Neymar.

On this day in 1980, Arsenal & Chelsea legend Ashley Cole born

Cole is considered by many critics and fellow professional players as one of the best defenders of his generation, and by some, for the better part of his career, as the best left back in the world.

Cole began his youth career at Arsenal and made his full debut for the club in 1999, going on to make 228 appearances and scoring nine goals for the North London club. With Arsenal he won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and was an integral member of "The Invincibles" team of the 2003–04 season, who went the entire league season undefeated.

In August 2006, after a protracted transfer saga, Cole completed a move to rival club Chelsea, with whom he won further honours, including the Premier League in the 2009–10 season. He was released by Chelsea at the end of the 2013–14.

On this day in 1991, Chelsea star Jorginho born

Born in Brazil, Jorginho moved to Italy at the age of 15, and began his professional career with the Verona, In January 2014, he moved to Napoli, where he immediately won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. He totalled 160 games for the club before a £50 million move to Chelsea in 2018.

Jorginho is known for his composure and versatility as a footballer, which allows him to be fielded in any midfield position. Although he is not imposing physically, due to his slender build and relatively short stature, he is also capable of playing both in a box-to-box role or in a defensive role as a ball winner, courtesy of his tactical intelligence, positional sense, awareness, and ability to read the game, which enables him to cover ground, press opponents further up the pitch, intercept passes, and start attacking plays after winning back the ball. 

On this day in 1945, Brazil got their biggest win over Argentina, beating them 6-2

Brazil got their biggest win over Argentina, beating them 6-2 in the Roca Cup.

There, Argentina took the lead with a 31st-minute goal from Adolfo Pedernera, but Brazil got strikes from Ademir Menezes and Leonidas da Silva to lead 2-1 at the break. Argentina drew level in the 46th minute through Rinaldo Martino, but then the floodgates opened for Brazil with goals from Zizinho, Chico, Heleno de Freitas, and another from Ademir. The 6-2 scoreline remains Brazil's biggest margin of victory over Argentina (though Argentina's 6-1 win in 1940 remains the largest win in the rivalry).

On this day in 1978, Former Madrid & Chelsea player Geremi born

Geremi is a Cameroonian former footballer, the most successful periods of Geremi's club career came at Real Madrid and Chelsea, winning two UEFA Champions League titles with the first and a full set of domestic honours with the latter.