There are 624 players representing 24 nations at Euro 2024, but only 11 of them are under the age of 20.
If the performances of some of them so far are anything to go by, then the future of the continental game looks very bright indeed.
Let’s take a look at the teenagers lighting up Germany this summer…
Joao Neves
Joao Neves was not even born when countryman Cristiano Ronaldo changed the game for teenagers with a couple of assists at Euro 2004.
The 19-year-old Benfica starlet was given a cameo off the bench in Portugal’s Group F win over Turkey and then handed the start in central midfield in their third game, a defeat against Georgia, when they had already sealed top-spot in the group.
Man United are among the admirers said to be lining up a summer swoop for the youngster, who is likely to command a fee of well over £50m already.
If they did complete a deal that could see him form an intriguing partnership with…
Kobbie Mainoo
The 18-year-old impressed after making his international debut in March and his FA Cup heroics for Man United saw him called up by Gareth Southgate, who gave him a cameo off the bench in England’s Group C opener against Serbia.
He remained on the bench for the Denmark game but changed the game after coming on at half-time against Slovenia and then earned a start in the Round of 16 win against Slovakia – playing 84 minutes and negotiating the last 77 of those on a yellow card.
He looks a nailed-on starter for the quarter-final against Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday evening too.
Mainoo 💨#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/GaDhS0DjoH
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 4, 2024
🇹🇷🌟 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/xWur9XJn7c
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 2, 2024
Arda Guler
Turkey’s Arda Guler has already become just the third teenager to both score and assist in the same edition of the European Championships, following in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, who both did so at Euro 2004.
The 19-year-old’s wonder strike against Georgia in their first group game saw the former Fenerbahce attacking midfielder become the fifth youngest goalscorer in Euros history and just the second teenager to score on his Euros debut after Ronaldo in 2004.
He came off the bench in game two against Portugal but returned to the starting XI in the 2-1 win over Czech Republic which saw his side progress as group runners-up, and then also the 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday night.
He hasn’t featured as much as he’d like after his move to Real Madrid last summer, injuries seeing him wait until late January to make his La Liga debut, however he scored five goals in his last five league games, starting four of them, and that form has continued into the summer.
Expect him to start again against the Netherlands in the last-eight, along with…
Kenan Yildiz
Yes, Turkey have two of them! The German-born Juventus forward only turned 19 in May but has started all four games so far, coming in from the left flank.
He got nine starts and made another 18 appearances off the bench for the Old Lady in Serie A this season although he only scored twice and assisted one goal.
There is actually a third Turkish teen in this exciting squad, but 18-year-old Besiktas forward Semih Kilicsoy has yet to come off the bench in this tournament.
Kacper Urbanski
The 19-year-old Bologna forward appeared in all three of Poland’s games in Group D, though could not prevent them finishing bottom.
He started against the Netherlands but came off shortly after the break in Poland’s 2-1 defeat, he made a brief appearance off the bench in the loss against Austria but was recalled and played 90 minutes as his side drew 1-1 with France in the group finale.
🇪🇸📸#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/EGFapnDEOH
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 3, 2024
Lamine Yamal
The Barcelona prodigy does not turn 17 until the day before the Euro 2024 final and smashed the record for the youngest player to appear at a Euros, set by Poland’s Kacper Kozłowski at Euro 2020, by 273 days.
The wide-man is Spain’s youngest ever player, youngest goalscorer and now has six assists in his 11 caps – all earned this year.
The left-footer provided six assists at club level since January – the most of any teenager in Europe this season – and has made 60 appearances for Barcelona and Spain in the past year.
His sublime cross for Fabian Ruiz to score against Georgia was his second assist of the tournament after opening his account in the opening group game against Croatia, matching the feat of a teenage Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2004.
He’ll surely be in the XI for the huge quarter-final matchup between Spain and Germany on Friday evening and will be looking to break further records, no doubt.
The rest
Feyernoord winger Leo Sauer, 18, only got four minutes as a substitute for Slovakia in their second group game, a 2-1 reverse against Ukraine.
PSG’s 18-year-old midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery has yet to come off the bench for France at the tournament.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Arthur Vermeeren, 19, failed to play a minute for Belgium during their ill-fated campaign, which ended in a Round of 16 exit against France.
Georgia and FC Basel midfielder Gabriel Sigua, who turned 19 during the tournament, failed to appear off the bench in his country’s four matches.
