Exceptional starlets are ready to take the baton from Europe’s stalwarts at Euro 2024

At the culmination of the group stage at the ongoing European Championship in Germany, there are a handful of starlets who have displayed maturity and quality that far exceeds their tender ages.

As Europe’s elite soccer nations jostle for the title of being crowned the best at the quadrennial continental showpiece, it has been far from a memorable tournament.

For example, Kylian Mbappe’s France qualified for the round of 16 without scoring a single goal in open play. The two goals they managed came from an own goal and a Mbappe penalty.

Meanwhile, Group C — which consisted of pre-tournament favourites England, as well as Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia produced just seven goals between the four nations.

It is the joint-lowest group goals tally at a Euros, with another mini-league producing the paltry return during the 2016 showpiece that was won by Portugal. For context, Group A winners and tournament hosts Germany scored eight goals on their own during their mini-league campaign.

Nonetheless, amidst all the low-scoring encounters, there have been some eye-catching displays from youngsters at the tournament.

With their countries progressing to the knockout phase, these starlets can add to the performances they have produced so far with the hopes that their individual showings can produce a Euro gold medal.

Jamal Musiala of Germany during the Euro 2024 match against Switzerland at Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 23 June 2024. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Jamal Musiala

Germany has been one of the so-called big nations to live up to that tag at Euro 2024. One of the men who has been key to this is their playmaker Musiala.

Just 21 years old, the Bayern Munich midfielder has already scored twice at the tournament; managing more goals than Serbia during their dismissal group campaign.

Musiala was the sole highlight of a horrible 2022 World Cup campaign by three-time European champions Germany when they were eliminated in the group phase.

Surrounded by experienced campaigners such as retiring midfielder Toni Kroos and one of the greatest footballers of all time in goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the technically astute and fleet-footed star will be key for Germany’s hopes of winning a record fourth Euro title.

Arda Guler of Turkiye shoots past Ladislav Krejci of Czechia during their Euro 2024 group match at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany. 26 June 2024. (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arda Güler

The Turkish wunderkind attracted the interest of European club champions Real Madrid after some impressive performances for Fenerbahçe, one of the biggest clubs in his home country.

Though injury disrupted his debut campaign with Real, the 19-year-old starlet still managed to score six league goals from the 10 appearances he made in 2023/2024.

He has brought that form into the Euros and helped Turkey trounced Georgia 3-1 in their group opener. The rasping strike he netted during that match saw him become the youngest player to score on his debut at the Euros, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record from the 2004 showpiece.

During his brief senior career, the creative midfielder has already shown that he has the potential to become one of the most influential players of his generation.

Lamine Yamal of Spain runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Riccardo Calafiori of Italy during their Euro 2024 group match at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. 20 June 2024. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal

“He’s a beast of a talent,” former Spain midfielder Xavi said of Yamal last season. “How he works, how he fights, how he helps the side. He has no ceiling. He doesn’t get tired. We are looking at something special.”

The teenager is living up to this praise from one of the game’s all-time greats, who was also his manager at Spanish club Barcelona.

As Spain smashed Croatia 3-0 in their Euros opener, Yamal started and provided an assist. Through his presence in that fixture, he became the youngest ever player to partake in a match at the tournament, at 16 years 338 days. Previously Poland’s Kacper Kozłowski held the record after appearing in Euro 2020 aged 17 years 246 days old

“He’s the type of footballer who can surprise you every day. He’s improving at an unnatural rate,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said of the 16-year-old starlet.

“He’s a special player. He’s a great person, he’s humble and he understands that he’s part of a learning process.”

Jude Bellingham of England. (Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Honourable mentions

Jude Bellingham is undoubtedly one of the best young players in the world currently. He has one Euro 2024 goal to show for it too. Nevertheless, he and his fellow Englishmen are yet to live up to the hype that preceded their current campaign.

Bellingham, though, did add more history to his story. Despite some toothless performances from the Lions so far. Through his presence in Germany, the 20-year-old became the youngest player to appear in two Euros. He debuted at Euro 2020.

Read more in Daily Maverick: From Bellingham to Lunin — the players to watch at Euro 2024

Then there is Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old scored 11 and assisted 12 Bundesliga goals as his club won the German league undefeated. He already has one goal at Euro 2024 and will be key to a German gold medal onslaught on home soil.

Porto and Portugal youngster Francisco Conceição joined an exclusive club of fathers and sons who have scored at the Euros. His father Sergio Conceição at the Euros 24 years ago. The only other duo to manage this rare feat are Italy’s Enrico Chiesa (1996) and Federico Chiesa — who scored at the 2020 edition of the tournament. DM