Oldest and youngest players at Euros: Pepe and Lamine Yamal enter record books at 2024 European Championship | Sporting News Canada

Euro 2024 is shaping up to be the biggest and best European Championship yet for a whole host of reasons, not least because this has already been a record-breaking tournament.

An international competition of this magnitude doesn’t come around too often — not least with the FIFA World Cup ballooning out to a 48-team tournament, arguably diluting its quality and appeal — and when it does, age is just a number for the brightest stars on show.

That’s certainly been the attitude of several teams coming into this year’s tournament — particularly those towards the Iberian peninsula — with many adopting a policy of “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough”, and in some key positions on the pitch, too. By the end of Euro 2024’s first round of matches, the records for both oldest and youngest player have brand new holders.

The Sporting News has a full breakdown of all the players to feature at the beginning and tail-ends of their careers across both Euro 2024 and the competition’s entire history.

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Oldest players in UEFA European Championship history

Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo is the one used to breaking records, but it was his international teammate Pepe who did so at Euro 2024 by becoming the oldest player in the tournament’s history.

He was aged 41 years and 113 days when he was named in the side for their Euro 2024 Group F opener against Czechia on June 18.

It’s hardly surprising that two of the five oldest players in Euros history are goalkeepers, given this position lends itself to longer careers at the very top.

Second on the list behind Pepe is the famous sweatpants-donning Hungary No.1 Gabor Kiraly, who became the competition’s oldest player when he featured against Belgium at Euro 2016.

While he just misses out on the top five, it’s also worth giving a mention to Austria forward Ivica Vastic. He became the oldest goalscorer in Euros history with his strike against Poland at Euro 2008, at 38 years, eight months and 14 days old.

Oldest players to appear at the Euros

*delayed until June-July 2021

Youngest players in UEFA European Championship history

The youngest players’ list in Euros history features three who made their tournament debuts at the delayed Euro 2020 finals in 2021, showing just how much of an impact youthful players make on the modern game.

Kacper Kozlowski pipped Jude Bellingham to top spot after featuring for Poland against Spain three years ago, but while he has missed out on Euro 2024 selection, Bellingham and fellow top-five midfielder Jamal Musiala are expected to make massive impacts this time around for England and Germany respectively. Musiala was named man-of-the-match in Germany’s opening-night demolition of Scotland.

But there is a new name at the top of the rankings after Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal was named to start Spain’s Group B clash with Croatia.

Youngest players to appear at the Euros

*delayed until June-July 2021

Oldest players at UEFA Euro 2024

Portugal alone have two players who could shatter oldest player records at this year’s Euros, and if 41-year-old legendary Porto centre-back Pepe takes to the field at any point, he’ll surpass both Matthaus and Kiraly as the oldest player in the tournament’s history.

Even if Pepe doesn’t feature (he’s widely expected to), captain Cristiano Ronaldo will also pass Matthaus on the list as the oldest outfield player, assuming he leads Portugal out in their first game.

MORE: Full Portugal squad as Ronaldo prepares for 11th major international tournament

Euro 2024 is shaping up to be an international swan song for Ronaldo and Pepe, with other legends such as Croatia’s 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (who would be sixth on this list) also bowing out.

Oldest players at Euro 2024

Ages correct as of opening match on June 14

Youngest players at UEFA Euro 2024

Like Pepe in the elders’ category, the record for youngest player at a European Championship is also expected to be blown out of the water in 2024, thanks to the emergence of Spain wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

The Barcelona winger is still only 16 years old and will break Kozlowski’s record by over seven months should he feature early enough in the tournament, having already become La Roja’s youngest appearance maker and goal scorer.

Paris Saint-Germain and France midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery will also join the top-five list should he make an appearance, but he’s far from Lamine Yamal’s potential record. If Spain go all the way to the decider, he could be lining up in the Euro 2024 final just one day after his 17th birthday.

Youngest players at Euro 2024

Ages correct as of opening match on June 14