‘Turkish Messi announces himself’ – young stars shining at Euro 2024

Another match, different youngster taking centre shape astatine Euro 2024.

Arda Guler coiled successful an early contender for extremity of nan tourney arsenic Turkey collapsed Georgia hearts successful their European Championship debut pinch a 3-1 win.

The 19-year-old ‘Turkish Messi’ became nan 3rd teen to people connected their first quality successful nan Euros - aft Ferenc Bene for Hungary against Spain successful 1964 and Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against Greece successful 2004 – pinch a superb 20-yard strike.

He is besides nan youngest subordinate to people connected his European Championship debut.

Guler joined Real Madrid successful July from Fenerbahce and, aft initially struggling for fittingness and form, vanished nan play pinch 5 goals successful 5 convention matches to triumph La Liga and go nan first Turkish subordinate to assistance nan Champions League.

Former Wales defender Ashley Williams told BBC One: “An unthinkable goal. We said astir this being a chance to denote himself connected nan awesome tourney segment and boy did he do that. He showed his quality. We were expecting to spot thing from him, that is unbelievable.”

Former England defender Stephen Warnock added BBC Radio 5 Live: "Earlier connected successful nan crippled we saw Arda Guler roaming information nan transportation seeing those bully touches that he possesses.

"The infinitesimal of magic that we saw pinch nan extremity was rather superb - that is only a glimpse of what he tin do."

And, pinch veterans for illustration Robert Lewandowski, Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and 41-year-old Pepe perchance successful their past European Championship, Guler is conscionable nan latest of nan caller procreation to show European shot is successful bully hands.

“The Turkish Messi has delivered. What a tourney this is becoming for nan youngsters,” said Guy Mowbray.

Jamal Musiala: Bayern Munich's 21-year-old guardant caught nan oculus successful Germany's opening-day rout disconnected Germany. Musiala, who represented England astatine younker level having spent overmuch of his puerility successful nan country, was likened to Kaka by Arsenal fable Ian Wright station match.

Florian Wirtz: Another Germany youngster who took centre shape connected Friday night. The 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen guardant became nan youngest subordinate to people for Germany astatine a European Championship.

Lamine Yamal: The Barcelona 16-year-old became nan youngest man to play astatine nan European Championship arsenic he played a cardinal domiciled successful Spain's vibrant 3-0 triumph against Croatia connected Saturday. Yamal made a insult of his property arsenic he continually danced his measurement done Croatia's defence, helping his state make a existent connection successful their Euro 2024 opener.

Jude Bellingham: England's 20-year-old, who plays for Real Madrid, is nan first European subordinate to make an quality astatine 3 awesome world tournaments earlier turning 21. The midfielder scored nan Three Lions' victor against Serbia.