The European Championship, affectionately dubbed EURO, is the continent’s most prestigious cup competitors. Scoring within the competitors is a assured manner of attracting eyeballs, which is why each formidable participant continuously appears to be like for alternatives to use the all-important remaining contact. Kids are much more drawn to the dream of scoring in EUROs, as it’s a surefire strategy to get on the map and draw consideration from the largest golf equipment on the planet. Nevertheless, scoring in EUROs is simpler stated than achieved, 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 aim, serving to the Turks to a 3-1 victory.
Guler picked up the ball about 30 yards away from aim, reduce in from the fitting flank, and dispatched a cracker of a shot together with his left foot. The ball swerved magnificently within the air to nestle into the top-left nook of Georgia’s aim. With the stunner, Guler not solely turned one of many youngest-ever scorers in EURO historical past but in addition 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 aim of the match within the 84th minute from the penalty spot.
Yugoslavia did not amass even a single level of their group, shedding not solely to France but in addition 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 discuss 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 bought. The then-teenager produced sensational performances on cue, which helped Os Navegadores dread the damaging EURO waters and declare their first-ever main title at France’s expense within the remaining.
Sanches additionally reached a little bit of a private milestone alongside the way in which, changing into the third-youngest scorer in EURO historical past. He scored a spectacular aim for Portugal within the quarter-finals towards Poland, canceling out Robert Lewandowski’s opener. Receiving the ball simply outdoors the realm, Sanches reduce onto his left foot, got here inside, and let fly from the fitting aspect of the ‘D’. The ball swerved fantastically and settled into the bottom-right nook. The aim 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. Nevertheless, 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 realm. 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 high-quality 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 way of ball from Ricardo Cabanas, and utilized a luxurious end to seek out the bottom-left nook of the French aim. 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.
