5 Young Emerging talents to follow in UEFA Euro 2024
The 2024 Euro Championships will take place in Germany on June 14th, 2024 and young players from all across Europe will be ready to announce themselves on the international stage. There are plenty of youngsters from some of the biggest leagues around the continent who will be on show in Germany this summer.
Young guns like Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz have already established themselves as some of the best attackers in the game and are already stars at their respective clubs. Let’s take a look at some of the best young players to watch out for in Euro 2024.
1. Florian Wirtz (Germany)
The German prodigy endured a breakout campaign with Bayer Leverkusen last season after winning the Bundesliga title for the first time in the club’s history. The talented attacker joined the Leverkusen academy in 2020 and has gone leaps and bounds over the last few seasons. He is one of Xabi Alonso’s most prized assets and would look to go one better this year with the national side. Wirtz has seen his stock skyrocket since winning the Bundesliga this season, with a lot of elite European clubs gunning for his signature this summer.
The 21-year-old youngster contributed to 18 goals and 20 assists in 48 matches across all competitions this season and was voted Bundesliga’s Player of the Season. The German sensation is expected to take the tournament by storm if he’s able to replicate his form on the international stage. After the 2023/24 season, Florian Wirtz has rubber-stamped himself as one of the best young players to watch in Euro 2024.
2. Jude Bellingham (England)
The English midfielder had a dream start to his Real Madrid career and have already cemented his place in one of the best teams in Europe. Since arriving at Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham has exceeded all expectations by winning La Liga’s Player of the Season honors. The 20-year-old midfielder played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s 36th league trophy this season. Bellingham was also honoured at the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards with the World Breakthrough of the Year honour.
Jude Bellingham won La Liga, Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup in his debut season for the Galacticos, a fairytale start for any footballer on this planet. He concluded his 2023/24 season with 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions. He is also one of the favorites for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
3. Lamine Yamal (Spain)
Lamine Yamal is the new sensation in Spanish football and maybe the youngest player to participate in the Euros this summer. Last year, Lamine became the youngest player to score in a European Championship qualifier. He made his debut for Barcelona in 2023 at just 16 years and 38 days old. The young prodigy has been dubbed as the best player to come out of La Masia since Lionel Messi.
At just 16 years old, Yamal is far from a finished product but could play a pivotal role in Luis de la Fuente’s side in Germany this June. His potential to break such records highlights his exemplary talent and future ahead of him.
4. Phil Foden (England)
The England midfielder was named Premier League‘s Player of the Season after a sensational year with Manchester City. Only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Foden in City. Earlier in May, he was also voted the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. The 23-year-old attacker won his sixth Premier League winners’ medal with Pep Guardiola. Foden was an integral part in Man City’s bid to win an unprecedented four successive Premier League trophy.
Phil Foden who has been part of the first team since 2017 concluded his 2023/24 season with 19 goals and eight assists in the top flight this season, and also become the youngest player to win six Premier League trophies. At 23 years old, Foden has already won 34 caps for England and will aim to make a deep run in Germany.
5. Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
The Dutch prodigy has been in sensational form since joining RB Leipzig on a season-long loan from PSG. Simons is a product of the famed La Masia academy and has been one of the best players on the European stage this season. He helped Leipzig finish fourth in the Bundesliga standings and his versatility has been key to his success since his move from Barcelona in 2019. The PSG attacker can feature out wide as an attacker or a playmaker. Xavis Simons registered 10 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last season and is one of the most exciting young players to watch out for in Euro 2024.
Also Read: Top 10 Goalkeepers in UEFA Euro 2024