As the 2024 UEFA European Championship rapidly approaches, a new generation of football superstars are poised to light up the stage in Germany.
Among the most anticipated talents are a collection of young players who have already made waves on the biggest club stages, and are set to shine at the Euros. They include:
1. Jude Bellingham (England)
Chief among the wonderkids is England’s Jude Bellingham. The 20-year-old midfield maestro has already won a Champions League title with Real Madrid, on top of receiving a personal accolade as the La Liga Player of the Season.
He has been nothing short of remarkable since his big-money move to Real Madrid in 2023. Bellingham has already scored 23 goals and registered 13 assists across all competitions for Los Blancos, hence cementing his status as one of the most recognizable faces in world football at the moment.
At just 20 years of age, he plays like a seasoned veteran, and England will be desperate for him to be the one to finally end their major tournament drought.
2. Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia)
The towering 22-year-old striker, has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland, and has been a revelation in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 14 goals for RB Leipzig.
Sesco, who stands at 6’5″ will be looking to carry that form into the Euros as Slovenia aim to make a statement on the continental stage.
The sticker is very good in the air, on top of being extremely fast. His energy, eye for goal and always being in the right place at the right time has attracted interest from clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea.
At the Euros, he’ll be aiming to prove a point for his country Slovenia, for which he has already scored 11 in 28 appearances.
3. Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Spain’s Lamine Yamal is another name to watch. Still only 16 years old, the Barcelona sensation has already etched his name in the history books. He become the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history when he scored his first goal against Granada in October 2023.
The teenager has been very vital for Barca in the just concluded season, scoring seven goals and assisting 10 times in 49 appearances in all competitions.
Yamal’s dazzling dribbling and passing skills have many tipping him to be one of the star players for Spain in the upcoming Euros.
4.Antonio Silva (Portugal)
The 20-year-old Benfica defender will be looking to partner Ruben Dias at the heart of Portugal’s backline. Silva’s defensive awareness has made him a rock in the Benfica backline, with his club conceding only 28 goals in 34 league matches this season.
He has an old-school, no-nonsense style of play and this makes it extremely difficult for him to get past by opposition attackers, yet he also possesses great technical quality on the ball.
With growing speculation surrounding his future, and top European clubs monitoring his progress, Silva will be eager to showcase his talents on the continental stage this summer. The young center-back will be aiming to help Portugal’s defense deliver major tournament success in Germnay.
He has already broken individual records for his country, he became the youngest player ever to represent his country at a World Cup in 2022. He will be looking to break more records at the Euros for Portugal.
5. Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Xavi Simons, currently on loan at RB Leipzig from PSG, is a versatile attacking talent who could shine at EURO 2024.
The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder has scored 10 goals and registered 15 assists this season, showcasing the technical brilliance that has drawn comparisons to Dutch legends of the past.
The versatile playmaker, who plays as a right-winger and attacking midfielder, hasn’t yet scored for the Netherlands, but fans will be hoping that he will find some form and help fire them to their second European Championship title.
6. Arda Guler (Turkey)
The Turkish attacker, who is just 19, is one of the young stars set to light up EURO 2024. He has struggled for consistent minutes at Real Madrid but has great potential, and remains one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
Guler, who is often compared to Messi, scored six goals in just 10 appearances during his debut season in Spain, including a brace against Villarreal in the 4-4 draw on 19th May. He has made six appearances for Turkey, including a start in their last game against Austria.
Guler portrayed a remarkable form towards the end of the season, and could be Turkey’s secret weapon at EURO 2024.
7. Floran Wirtz (Germany)
The 21-year old German sensation has been a revelation in the Bundesliga this season, leading Bayer Leverkusen to the title.
Having scored 18 goals and registered 20 assists in the just concluded season, he will be looking to continue his sparkling form for his country this summer.
8. Cole Palmer (England)
Chelsea’s young talent, Cole Palmer, is expected to be a key figure in England’s squad for the upcoming EURO 2024 tournament in Germany. The 22-year-old midfielder has quickly risen to prominence, having made just two appearances for the national team so far.
Despite his limited international experience, Palmer is being touted as a potential “secret weapon” for England. His creativity, sublime ball control, and scoring have been very helpful for Chelsea in the just concluded season, and could make him a valuable asset for England in unlocking opposing defenses during the tournament.
