Despite a promising start, Euro 2024’s initial swagger seemed to dwindle through the latter group stages. Creating a format where 16 of the 24 competing sides were able to reach the round of 16 scarcely helped, while England’s dire performances in a sleep-inducing Group C were enough to disarm even the most ardent fans.
However, the tournament was revived during the latter stages, while there’s little doubt that the young stars of Euro 2024 breathed life into a competition that was gasping for air when the knockout stages swung around.
In fact, there’s little doubt that the 17th renewal of the European Championship saw the breakthrough of some truly generational talents. But were these stars, and what is the future likely to hold for them?
Lamine Yamal – Spain and Barcelona
Where else to start but with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who only turned 17 in the days leading up the final and broke numerous records in Germany.
For example, the Young Player of the Tournament became the youngest ever star to play, assist and score during the European Championship finals. He also became the youngest ever player to feature in a major international final, beating the previous record set by Pele in the 1958 World Cup showpiece by 248 days.
Lamal also completed 32 dribbles during the tournament (only Jeremy Doku successfully executed more), while his tally of four assists included three during the knockout stages. Blessed with fearless running and a wand of a left foot, he has more than a little in common with former Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi.
Despite his rapidly ascending profile and Barca’s ongoing financial woes, Yamal is likely to stay with the Catalan club for the time being. After all, he’s contracted until 2026 and is the subject of a €1 billion release clause. The adventurous Hansi Flick will also bring the best out of the precocious winger, and his development will be fascinating to watch in the future.
Jamal Musiala – Germany and Bayern Munich
If you like a flutter and regularly frequent crypto poker sites, there’s surely good value in backing Bayern’s 21-year-old winger Jamal Musiala to win at least one Ballon d’Or during his career.
Of course, the talented Musiala is virtually a veteran when compared to Yamal, but he also lit up Euro 2024 after a domestic campaign that saw ‘Bambi’ notch 20 goals involvements (12 goals and eight assists) in 38 appearances in all competitions.
Like Yamal, he completed 32 dribbles at Euro 2024 (despite playing two less matches), while contributing three goals. This included a cool run and stroked finish in the 2-0 round of 16 matches against Denmark, while the creative Musiala made 14 key passes and made 16 runs into the attacking third.
Musiala’s contract also runs until the summer of 2026, and Bayern will be keen to tie him to a new contract. However, he has been linked to Liverpool and Manchester City (among others) and was developed during his time in the Chelsea academy, and the uncertainty surrounding Bayern means that we could see him in the EPL in the near-term.
Kobbie Mainoo – England and Manchester United
Kobbie Mainoo’s rapid rise from obscurity has been incredible, and we would have seen more of him in the red shirt of Manchester United last season had he not incurred an injury in the pre-season.
Since the beginning of 2023/24, the cultured Mainoo has scored five goals and produced three assists in 35 appearances for his club. This haul included stunning goals against Wolves and Liverpool, while Mainoo soon made his mark for England during an impressive debut vs Belgium on March 26th.
Blessed with outstanding technique, rapid acceleration and superb dribbling skills, Mainoo also boasts excellent positional sense and is an effective tackler. He’s undoubtedly metronic in possession and not afraid to pass forwards, with this enabling the Three Lions to become more balanced as Euro 2024 progressed.
In five tournament starts, Mainoo completed 190 of his 206 attempted passes (92.5%), while also executing 10 key passes. He was also incredibly composed despite his tender age of just 19, and Manchester United will be desparate to extend a contract that’s currently due to expire in the summer of 2027.
