The European Championship, affectionately dubbed EURO, is the continent’s most prestigious cup competitors. Scoring within the competitors is a assured method of attracting eyeballs, which is why each bold participant continually appears for alternatives to use the all-important closing contact. Kids are much more drawn to the dream of scoring in EUROs, as it’s a surefire approach to get on the map and draw consideration from the largest golf equipment on the earth. Nonetheless, scoring in EUROs is simpler stated than carried out, with solely a handful of youngsters managing it for the reason that match’s inception in 1958.
Proceed studying to take a look at the 5 youngest gamers in historical past to have scored within the European Championships.
#5 Arda Guler (Turkiye) – 19 years, 114 days
Turkish teen sensation Arda Guler made historical past on his European Championship debut towards Georgia on June 18. Aged 19 years and 114 days, the Actual Madrid teen scored a cracker of a purpose, serving to the Turks to a 3-1 victory.
Guler picked up the ball about 30 yards away from purpose, reduce in from the appropriate flank, and dispatched a cracker of a shot along with his left foot. The ball swerved magnificently within the air to nestle into the top-left nook of Georgia’s purpose. With the stunner, Guler not solely turned one of many youngest-ever scorers in EURO historical past but additionally the youngest participant to attain on their European Championship debut.
#4 Dragan Stojkovic (Yugoslavia) – 19 years, 108 days
Dragan Stojkovic, who’s managing Serbia in EURO 2024, is the fourth-highest scorer within the competitors’s historical past. He was 19 years and 108 days previous when he scored for Yugoslavia in a 3-2 defeat to France in Group 1 of UEFA EURO 1984. Stojkovic scored his solely purpose of the match within the 84th minute from the penalty spot.
Yugoslavia didn’t amass even a single level of their group, dropping not solely to France but additionally to Denmark and Belgium. Unable to open their account, they endured a disappointing group-stage exit.
#3 Renato Sanches (Portugal) – 18 years, 317 days
Renato Sanches was the speak of the city earlier than Portugal started their journey in EURO 2016. And over the next month, he proved why he deserved each little bit of consideration he received. The then-teenager produced sensational performances on cue, which helped Os Navegadores dread the harmful EURO waters and declare their first-ever main title at France’s expense within the closing.
Sanches additionally reached a little bit of a private milestone alongside the best way, changing into the third-youngest scorer in EURO historical past. He scored a spectacular purpose for Portugal within the quarter-finals towards Poland, canceling out Robert Lewandowski’s opener. Receiving the ball simply exterior the world, Sanches reduce onto his left foot, got here inside, and let fly from the appropriate facet of the ‘D’. The ball swerved fantastically and settled into the bottom-right nook. The purpose from the 18-year-and-317-day-old allowed Portugal to carry Poland at 1-1 after which beat them on penalties.
#2 Wayne Rooney (England) – 18 years, 237 days
Then 18-year-old Wayne Rooney made his EURO debut for England in 2004. His match debut didn’t go in response to plan as France beat the Three Lions 2-1 within the match opener. Nonetheless, Rooney turned it round fantastically on Matchday 2, scoring a stellar brace in a 3-0 victory over Switzerland. The Manchester United icon was solely 18 years and 237 days previous on the time.
Rooney scored the opener within the twenty third minute, turning Michael Owen’s cross into the again of the online from shut vary. He doubled his cash within the seventy fifth minute, dispatching a thunderous drive from the sting of the world. Rooney misplaced his crown for the youngest-ever scorer just some days later, however he stays the youngest participant to attain a brace in EUROs.
#1 Johan Vonlanthen (Switzerland) – 18 years, 141 days
4 days after Wayne Rooney turned EURO’s youngest-ever scorer, Switzerland teen Johan Volanthen changed him on the summit. Aged solely 18 years and 141 days, Volanthen scored a effective equalizer towards Zinedine Zidane’s France of their Group B encounter, reserving a spot within the historical past books.
Volanthen made a diagonal run into the field from the left, latched on to a gem of a by ball from Ricardo Cabanas, and utilized a luxurious end to seek out the bottom-left nook of the French purpose. Sadly for the then-teenager, France in the end got here out on prime, with Thierry Henry bagging a second-half brace to assert a 3-1 win.
