Michael Owen’s stunning goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup in France was a moment of astounding individualism and heroism. In football folklore, Owen went down as England’s youngest goalscorer with that strike, but the actual distinction belongs to Wayne Rooney, who scored against Macedonia in September 2003, aged 17 years and 317 days.

For India, it is a man from Mizoram, Jerry Zirsanga who holds the record. Zirsanga showed a lot of early promise and talent like Michael Owen, but he went on to spend his playing days in the anonymous netherworld of Indian football and his career soon fizzled out.

A boy in a man’s world

Zirsanga struck midway in the second half of India’s away friendly to Kuwait in November 2004. The hosts had been leading 2-1 and coach Stephen Constantine deemed it right to react. The English coach was in his first spell as Indian boss on the back of a footballing adventure in neighbouring Nepal. He substituted Jatin Sing Bisht from Mahindra United and on came Zirsanga from the Tata Football Academy.

“Nobody expected us to play well,” said Manabendra Bhattacharyya, India’s team doctor at the time. “Moreover Kuwait probably underestimated Zirsanga, because of his lack of height. But the coach had confidence in him. Zirsanga would change direction during his runs and most defenders were unable to block him and often had to revert to faults in dangerous areas to stop him.”

Zirsanga was very much a boy in a man’s world: his features were those of a typical teenager, lacking muscular mass. Yet he broke free in the 66th minute on the right wing for the Blue Tigers, accelerated and then scored with a composed shot to equalise.

His quick goal was a moment of historical significance for Indian football: at 16 years and 311 days, Zirsanga became India’s youngest international goalscorer. His equaliser rejuvenated India, who would win, courtesy of a third goal from Abhishek Yadav.

Fading into the shadows

The Indian media never truly recognised Zirsanga’s landmark goal. They recently hailed 18-year-old Lallianzuala Chhangte as the youngest goalscorer after his brace against Nepal in the SAFF Cup in December and completely forgot about Zirsanga. His strike against Kuwait had left little doubt about his prodigious skills and gumption. At his football academy, he trained with talented youngsters Gouramangi Singh, Debabrata Roy and Subrata Pal.

“I met Zirsanga for the first time at an U16 camp,” recalled Bhattacharyya. “He was very timid, he didn’t talk much, but while playing the game he was totally different. He had wonderful ball control and could any opponent.”

His quick ascension to the top of Indian football did not propel Zirsanga on to greater success. His playing days were a fragmented footballing odyssey at Mohun Bagan, Dempo, Chirag United, Churchill Brothers and Luangmual respectively. The denouement came at Mohammedan Sporting during the 2013-'14 season when Zirsanga played a paltry seven games.

Michael Owen flourished early on at Liverpool, but subsequently failed to make much of an impact at Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City. Injuries, in conjunction with the pressure and projected rewards of the Premier League, curtailed his career and blighted his progress.

Both Zirsanga and Owen were hugely talented, but the latter benefited from proper grooming and guidance at Liverpool’s famed youth academy. Mizoram’s Zirsanga unfortunately could not as the grassroots level in Indian football remained underdeveloped.

“Firstly, Zirsanga’s height made it difficult for him to survive at senior level,” explained Bhattacharyya. “Number two, coaches failed to utilise him, he could have been successful as a winger with his speed and ball control.”

He added: “A proper youth development system was non-existent. Graduation from junior to senior lever wasn’t proper either. Players needed more guidance. Today there are more opportunities.”

Now 28 and without a contract, Zirsanga has quit football. From the sidelines, he will watch on how a new generation of young Indian talents will seek to impress at the FIFA tournament and wonder what might have been if he had been given such a chance.