The 10 best young players of Euro 2024 - ranked
- Young players lit up Euro 2024 in Germany this summer
- Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Jamal Musiala all starred for their nations
- Stars from England, Portugal and the Netherlands make the cut
Euro 2024 has come to a close and some of the finest players around the continent made their mark on the tournament in Germany.
It was Spain who ended up lifting the silverware in Berlin, beating England in the final in dramatic late fashion While plenty of experiences pros helped La Roja over the line, it was their young aces who sprinkled stardust on their performances and seriously impressed.
UEFA hand their Young Player of the Tournament award to a player who is at most 22-years-old, so with that criteria in mind here are 90min's best young stars of Euro 2024.
10. Nuno Mendes
Nation: Portugal
It's nothing less than a disgrace that Portugal didn't go any further than the quarter-finals. Roberto Martinez is a massive problem as manager, while the ego of Cristiano Ronaldo meant the Selecao had little edge in attack.
Their failure will be tough to stomach for their fans given the wealth of talent Portugal have at their disposal, but Nuno Mendes at least left the tournament with plenty of credit in the rank.
His side lost to France in a penalty shootout but not before he thrashed in one of the spot-kicks you're ever likely to see.
9. Bukayo Saka
Nation: England
It's a little odd to still be placing Bukayo Saka among the youngsters around Europe, given he plays with a maturity that belies his 22 years.
Stats of just one goal and no assists for the tournament don't do the Arsenal star justice. Saka saved England from a premature exit to Switzerland with a beauty from distance and tucked away his penalty in the shootout, vanquishing a few ghosts from Euro 2020.
He looked capable of delivering a game-changing moment in the final against Spain, but it just didn't quite arrive.
8. Florian Wirtz
Nation: Germany
Florian Wirtz powered his way into Germany's squad with his awesome displays during Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title-campaign and showed the world what he's all about with a goal in the opening night demolition of Scotland.
He suffered a little bit in the subsequent games, not looking as comfortable on the left wing as he is in the middle, but the 21-year-old still bounced back from being dropped against Denmark to score a late equaliser Spain in the quarter-finals.
It wasn't vintage Wirtz, but he'll only get better at major tournaments in the future.
7. Kobbie Mainoo
Nation: England
England's midfield was a point of major debate in the early stages of Euro 2024, but eventually it was Kobbie Mainoo who partnered Declan Rice and made the position his own.
The Manchester United youngster is still a fledgling talent but looks to have every important facet of play under his belt and will only improve as time goes on.
He'll continue to partner Rice and Jude Bellingham in the coming years and it's a midfield that could sit among the world's best soon.
6. Xavi Simons
Nation: Netherlands
Xavi Simons must have been on cloud nine when he struck the sweetest of shots to give the Netherlands the lead over England in the semi-finals.
He had delivered three assists in the group stage prior to that final-four meeting and, while the Oranje didn't end up reaching the final, Simons whacked a few extras euros onto his transfer valuation this summer.
5. Jude Bellingham
Nation: England
It was less about total performances as it was moments of magic for Jude Bellingham at Euro 2024.
Everything was going swimmingly when the Real Madrid star headed in what turned out to be England's winner against Serbia, but the Three Lions spluttered so much in attack that it's hard to rank him any higher than fifth here.
However, the overhead kick against Slovakia was instantly iconic, as was his shout of 'Who else?'. He'll be back.
4. Arda Guler
Nation: Turkey
Fans have a pretty good idea what Arda Guler is all about now thanks to his starring role in Turkey's run to the last eight.
He didn't get many minutes at Real Madrid last season but made an instant in his first game in Germany by netting an inch-perfect curler against Georgia, before bagging assists in the knockout stages.
Turkey showed plenty of doggedness and resilience at Euro 2024 and will hope Guler's prodigious talent can take them further in future tournaments.
3. Jamal Musiala
Nation: Germany
Jamal Musiala was billed as one of the young players to watch out for this summer and the Bayern Munich wonderkid delivered for Germany.
A lack of experience became apparent in the quarter-final exit to Spain but the 21-year-old had already scored three times before that point, striking against Scotland, Hungary and Denmark.
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has plenty of brilliant talents to work with going forward and Musiala is undeniably the pick of the bunch.
2. Nico Williams
Nation: Spain
An almighty scramble for Nico Williams' signature has been sparked by his vibrant displays in a fabulous Spain team this summer.
The Athletic Club winger used his rapid pace and quick dribbling to full effect in Germany and came up with a decisive finish in the final to put La Roja ahead against England.
He may have been slightly outshone by his wing partner, but Williams has arrived on the big stage now and won't be leaving for some time.
1. Lamine Yamal
Nation: Spain
He turned 17 the day before the final but it's already getting tough to think of new superlatives to describe Spain whizz-kid Lamine Yamal.
On top of completely burying a s**t-talking Adrien Rabiot with his stunning goal in the semi-final against France, the Barcelona teenager set up another four throughout the tournament, including Williams' opener in the final.
Yamal was named Euro 2024's Young Player of the Tournament and there's no strong case for the award to have been handed elsewhere. He's a generational talent and, at such a young age, one Barca must protect better than other starlets they've produced in recent years.
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