At Euro 2024, the young movement is fully engaged.
Turkey’s Arda Guler (19 years and 114 days) became the youngest player ever to score a goal at the European Championship on Tuesday during his country’s 3-1 victory over Georgia. This occurred only days after Spain striker Lamine Yamal became the first 16-year-old to compete at a men’s European Championship.
And what a beautiful curling 20 yards it was. On the grandest platform, Arda Guler essentially replicated his very first goal for Turkey.
Guler broke the previous mark held by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who scored a goal against Greece in the 2004 European Championship at the age of 19 years and 128 days. Ronaldo would carry on his heroics and lead Portugal to the championship game before losing to Greece in a thrilling rematch.
Is Guler about to have a Cinderella moment of his own?
The 19-year-old Turk joined Ronaldo and Ferenc Bene of Hungary, who scored against Spain in 1964, as the third teenager to score on their Euro debut.
Guler was one of the most anticipated young players going into Euro 2024, even if his first season at Real Madrid was up and down. He was dubbed the “Turkish Messi” because of his resemblance to Lionel Messi. Under Carlo Ancelotti, the midfielder saw his playing time increase and ended the season with five goals in as many La Liga games despite playing little for the team. Guler became the first Turk to win the Champions League earlier this month, even though he didn’t play a single minute.
Francisco Conceicao, a 21-year-old sensation from Portugal, also made an early run for “Goal of the Euros” on Tuesday when he scored 111 seconds after substituting in to give his team a dramatic 2-1 victory over Czechia.
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