Euro 2024 is set to witness age milestones as young sensation Lamine Yamal and seasoned veteran Pepe prepare to make history on the field. With squads finalizing at 26 players each, this year sees a notably wide age spectrum among selections, with the youngest player lagging behind the oldest by a staggering 25 years.
Teen Talent
This season, a total of 11 teenagers grace the Euro stage, showcasing Europe’s budding talents. Among them are luminaries like Lamine Yamal, Warren Zaire-Emery, Kobbie Mainoo, Arda Guler, Joao Neves, and Arthur Vermeeren, all poised for their inaugural major international tournament. Joining the ranks with Slovakia is Feyenoord’s 18-year-old prodigy Leo Sauer.
Barcelona’s prodigy, Yamal, stands as the youngest participant in the Euros. Celebrating his seventeenth birthday just a day before the tournament’s final, if he takes the field, he’ll etch his name as the youngest player ever to grace the Euros, potentially surpassing Kacper Kozlowski’s record set in 2021.
On the flip side, 41-year-old FC Porto stalwart Pepe emerges as the elder statesman of the tournament, potentially rewriting the record books. Having celebrated his 41st birthday in February, Pepe could become the first player ever to compete at such an age, eclipsing Gabor Kiraly’s record of 40.
The battle for age records doesn’t end there; Pepe also eyes the title of the oldest goal scorer, currently held by Ivica Vastic at 38. Yet, Pepe faces stiff competition from his former Real Madrid comrades Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, both vying to etch their names in Euro history.
