Euro 2024 is not only a showcase of elite footballing talent but also a platform for emerging stars to announce their arrival on the international stage.
As the tournament draws near, kicking off with Germany vs Scotland in Munich on June 14, excitement builds around which young prodigies will seize the opportunity to dazzle spectators and make their mark.
Here, we spotlight four promising talents who are strong contenders for the Young Player of the Tournament award, each eager to leave an impression in Germany and capture the attention of football fans.
Jude Bellingham
England sensation Jude Bellingham might only be 20 years old, but he is set to play a leading role for Gareth Southgate’s side this summer.
Coming off the back of a La Liga/Champions League double season, in which he scored over 20 goals and registered more than 10 assists, Bellingham has the chance to confirm he’s a generational talent in Germany.
The Three Lions are proving to be a popular choice in the outright market with those who have Euro 2024 free bets, and Bellingham is a big shout for the Young Player of the Tournament if he carries on his fine form.
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is another young player who had a fantastic 2023-24 campaign, making the headlines in what was an unbelievable year for Bayer Leverkusen.
The German side not only won their first Bundesliga title but went unbeaten under Xabi Alonso, and Wirtz played a huge part in their unfathomable success with 11 goals and 11 assists in the league.
The 21-year-old has been capped 17 times by Germany but is set to feature at his first major tournament after missing the 2022 World Cup through injury, and he will be out to make a big impression on home soil.
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Jamal Musiala
Another German hoping to guide his country to glory on home soil is Jamal Musiala, who could also show England what they missed out on.
The 21-year-old was born in Stuttgart but represented the Three Lions at multiple youth levels before switching his alliance to Germany.
This will be Musiala’s third major tournament with Die Mannschaft, after featuring at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, and he is heading into it on the back of an impressive season with Bayern Munich — scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists across 38 games in all competitions.
Lamine Yamal
While the others on this list so far are guaranteed starters for their respective nations at the Euros, it’s unclear just how much of a role Lamine Yamal is set to play for Spain in Germany.
The 16-year-old had a breakthrough year at Barcelona last season, scoring seven goals and racking up 10 assists in 50 games across all competitions as he emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the game.
He scored on his Spain debut against Georgia last September and has earned six caps at the time of writing, but he will face stiff competition on the wings from Ferran Torres and co.
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Eduardo Camavinga and Xavi Simons are next in line, followed by Cole Palmer, who will be hoping to increase the Three Lions’ chances in the England betting odds after a stunning season with Chelsea.
