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Even in an era when every league on the planet is available to watch if you know where to look, there's nothing quite like an international tournament when it comes to a young superstar announcing themselves to the world. Regardless of how much hype a starlet has been accumulating at club level, they've never truly arrived as the next best thing until they've done the business during a footballing summer. The European Championship has a strong pedigree of providing these wonderkids with the platform to shine and Euro 2024 was no different, with both Arda Guler and Lamine Yamal taking their reputations to a new level in Germany. <script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>Below, GOAL has taken a trip down memory lane by ranking the best European Championship campaigns from teenagers...

Lamine Yamal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and the greatest teenage Euros tournaments - ranked

UEFA Nations League A

Denmark

Spain

UEFA Nations League B

Turkiye

Wales

Switzerland did not give their supporters much to smile about at Euro 2004. After playing out a joyless 0-0 draw with Croatia in their group-stage opener, they were well beaten by England and then lost 3-1 to France.But they did at least come away believing they'd found a great hope for the future. Having scarcely featured prior to the France clash, Johan Vonlanthen made a splash against Les Bleus. With 26 minutes on the clock, his perfectly-timed run was spotted by Ricardo Cabanas and the 18-year-old produced a pinpoint finish past Fabien Barthez.The goal made Vonlanthen the youngest scorer in Euros history, a record he stole off Wayne Rooney and still holds to this day. Rooney had the last laugh, though, with the winger failing to deliver on his potential by enjoying a fairly middling career at a string of European clubs.

Johan Vonlanthen (Switzerland, Euro 2004)

Paolo Maldini was included in Team of the Tournament at three different European Championships during his storied career, and that honour was first bestowed on him back in 1988 when he was still a teenager.Deployed at left-back by Italy boss Azeglio Vicini and wearing the number eight on his back, Maldini helped his side navigate a tricky group stage alongside the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Franco Baresi and Gianluca Vialli.Opening the tournament with a draw against hosts West Germany, the Azzurri would progress to the knockouts courtesy of victories over Spain and Denmark. But Maldini's journey would end in the semi-finals, with the Soviet Union besting them 2-0 in what was the defender's only shaky display of the entire campaign.

Paolo Maldini (Italy, Euro 1988)

Bukayo Saka gifted us one of the defining images of Euro 2020 when he was just 19 years old. In the final, he scurried past grizzled veteran Gieorgio Chiellini and was swiftly punished for his insolence, with the Italian desperately grabbing his collar to prevent him darting away.The moment was typical of Saka's joyful performances throughout the competition as the Arsenal starlet emerged as one of Gareth Southgate's key men. His one goal contribution came in the semi-finals against Denmark, but in truth he was dangerous throughout, regardless of whether he started on came on as a sub.His tournament would ultimately end in heartbreak, in the form of a missed penalty in the final shootout, but the outpouring of love he received in the wake of the defeat rightly ensured this did not overshadow a strong showing.

Bukayo Saka (England, Euro 2020)

Cristian Chivu is one of the best defenders in Romanian football history, with the peak of his club career coming when he helped Jose Mourinho's Inter clinch a famous treble in 2010. But it all began for him, on the international stage at least, back in 2000.Entering the tournament aged 19, Chivu started every one of his side's games as Romania defied the odds to make it out of the 'Group of Death'. Kicking-off with a hard-fought point against Germany, they did everything right in their second game before having their hearts broken by a 94th-minute winner from Portugal midfielder Costinha.This meant they had to beat England to get through, and Chivu sent Romania into dreamland inside 22 minutes when his cross-cum-shot deceived Nigel Martyn to put his side ahead. The two teams then traded blows in a classic encounter, before a late Ionel Ganea penalty earned all three points.Chivu and Co would bow out in the quarter finals to eventual runners-up Italy, but the young defender had made a sizable contribution to one of his nation's finest footballing hours.

Cristian Chivu (Romania, Euro 2000)

Denmark boasted a stacked team at Euro 1984, including 1977 Ballon d'Or winner Allan Simonsen, free-scoring striker Preben Elkjaer and Ajax favourite Frank Arnesen. The side also featured the youthful talents of Michael Laudrup, making his major tournament debut aged just 19.After a narrow, opening-game defeat to a Michel Platini-inspired France, the Danes responded emphatically against Yugoslavia. The fresh-faced Laudrup was immense that day, finishing the game with two assists while playing a withdrawn forward role.Belgium were vanquished next, setting up a classic clash with Spain in the semi-finals. Laudrup was closely marked by Spain's sweeper Antonio Maceda all game, but saved his most impressive contribution for the penalty shootout.His first effort was saved by Luis Arconada, but the teenager wasn't having it. Showing confidence well beyond his tender years, he insisted to the referee that the Spanish goalkeeper had moved off his line too soon. The official concurred and, with the whole world watching, he buried the retake.

Michael Laudrup (Denmark, Euro 1984)

With just a single Premier League season under his belt, Cristiano Ronaldo headed into Euro 2004 motivated to secure the trophy on home soil. Ultimately, it would end in floods of tears, with underdogs Greece triumphing in the final.But in retrospect, this was an important tournament for Ronaldo. In his side's opener, he scored a towering header off the bench, which hinted at the fearsome penalty-box poacher he would become. He eventually broke into the starting XI at Simao's expense and, after a string of exciting displays, had a decisive impact in the semi-finals against the Netherlands.Once again, he scored a superb header to open the scoring, and his smartly-taken corner then allowed Maniche to double Portugal's advantage with a world-class effort from range. The final was a far less enjoyable affair, but Euro 2004 still marked a giant leap forward for Ronaldo, both as a player and a global personality.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Euro 2004)

Guler had a point to prove heading into Euro 2024, having seen his maiden Real Madrid season severely affected by injury. He made up for lost time in Germany,,though, netting one of the goals of the tournament in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arda-guler-real-madrid-starlet-classic-euro-2024-encounter-wonder-strike-turkey-earn-thrilling-win-over-georgia/blt6af1980d5dc8a626" target="_blank">Turkey's very first game,</a> a 3-1 victory over Georgia. He also played a significant role in the win over Czech Republic which granted his side passage to the last 16.Guler did not go hiding in the knockouts either. Turkey were not expected to do much against Austria, but the 19-year-old helped them overcome Ralf Rangnick's well-organised troops, whipping in a corner for Merih Demiral to double his side's advantage. Guler would again provide the creative touch in the quarter-final, setting up Samet Akaydin with a pinpoint cross as Turkey were narrowly edged out by the Netherlands.

Arda Guler (Turkey, Euro 2024)

2021 was the busiest year of Pedri's life. Not only did the Spanish midfielder dominate Euro 2020 following a draining club season at Barcelona, he would go to represent his country at the Olympics.In the former competition, he would end up with Young Player and Team of the Tournament honours, having played a major role in propelling Spain to the semi-finals, where they endured a heartbreaking penalty-shootout exit to Italy. He may not have registered a goal or assist, but Pedri's fingerprints were all over Spain's masterful displays.No player in the tournament completed more passes in the opposing half, and he carried the ball superbly throughout too. It was little surprise that he was being<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/not-even-iniesta---pedri-earns-comparisons-to-spain-legend-after-impeccable-euro-2020-display/1lo6gfxdcqpbd1lw3xxpesufdg" target="_blank"> hailed the heir to Andres Iniesta</a> when the tournament drew to a close.

Pedri (Spain, Euro 2020)

Forget about his recent struggles, when Renato Sanches initially burst onto the scene at Euro 2016, it seemed certain that he would develop into one of the best players on the planet. He had not even registered a senior start for Portugal before the tournament, but he soon made himself at home.His finest Euros performances would come in the quarter-finals, where the Selecao clashed with Poland. After the underdogs stunned Portugal with a Robert Lewandowski goal inside two minutes, Sanches would provide salvation on the half-hour mark, exchanging passes with Nani before bending a left-footed shot into the far corner.He would go on to play prominent roles in the semi-finals and the final too, with the midfielder ultimately named Young Player of the Tournament after Portugal had lifted the trophy.

Renato Sanches (Portugal, Euro 2016)

The impact of Rooney's Euro 2004 coming-out party extended beyond football. By grabbing the tournament by the scruff of the neck, the teenager became a pop-culture icon back home in England, with the striker spending the next decade on the front and back pages of tabloid newspapers.2004 was Rooney in his least diluted form. From elbowing legendary France defender Lilian Thuram in the opening game, to nutmegging Zinedine Zidane and claiming England duty "felt like a holiday", this was a supremely talented street footballer expressing himself with absolutely no fear.Four goals in the group stages saw England through to the knockouts, where heartbreak awaited the prodigious talent. Inside 27 minutes against Portugal, Jorde Andrade stepped on his foot, leading to a broken metatarsal. The Three Lions would go on to lose on penalties, but life would never be the same for Rooney.

Wayne Rooney (England, Euro 2004)

Given his biggest platform yet, Yamal shrugged off the pressure that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lamine-yamal-makes-history-spain-breaks-record-appearance-croatia-euro-2024/blt5432a3582f20c048">came with becoming the youngest player in European Championship history</a> in Spain's opener against Croatia. Dangerous throughout, he capped off an imperious first-half display by setting up Dani Carvajal -<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/spain-player-ratings-croatia-lamine-yamal-alvaro-morata/blt4cadab491a033fd2"> a team-mate literally twice his age</a> - with a delightful cross.This display set the tone for a quite wondrous Euro campaign - one that reached legendary status during a semi-final victory over France. With his side 1-0 down and in need of inspiration, Yamal curled home an astounding, long-ranged effort to level things up, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/spain-lamine-yamal-reacts-record-breaking-euro-2024-semi-final-france-birthday-celebrations-germany/blt42164f176f2ef4c0">becoming the youngest-ever scorer in European Championship history</a>.In the final, he'd go on to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/spain-player-ratings-vs-england-euro-2024-nico-williams-mikel-oyarzabal/blt7813b5aa3697bc7e" target="_blank">set up Nico Williams' opening goal</a> in a 2-1 victory over England, helping Spain become European champions for the fourth time a matter of days after his 17th birthday. Who knows what other milestones he'll be able to tick off over the course of his career...

Lamine Yamal - (Spain, Euro 2024)

Lamine Yamal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and the greatest teenage Euros tournaments - ranked | Goal.com

Lamine Yamal and Arda Guler are following in Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney&apos;s footsteps by making a name for himself as a teenager at the European Championship