The fastest century of international caps



Plus: the longest odds-on draw ever; Robbie Keane: international flat-track bully; and the world's longest unbeaten run. Email your questions and answers to [email protected]

Tom Bryant, Alan Gardner and James Dart
Wednesday December 5, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


International football's youngest centurion, Sami Al-Jaber. Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

"As Cristiano Ronaldo approaches an astonishing 54 caps at the age of 22," writes Nick Byrne, "who is the youngest player to reach his hundred?"
Cristiano Ronaldo could still become the youngest player to reach 100 caps, Nick, but only if he can notch up another 46 appearances in the next year. The honour, in actual fact, goes to US women's striker Cindy Parlow who, at 23 years, one month and 26 days, brought up her ton while captaining the American side in a friendly against Canada. So impressive was the team's performance under her leadership that day, coach April Heinrichs claimed: "My emotions and arousal level were as high today as they were for any game in the Olympics." Maintaining the run, Parlow is also the youngest person to have won both an Olympic gold medal and a women's World Cup.