Who is the youngest player in Euros history?

Cameron Smith

• 15 Jun 2024 11:00 CDT
• 3 min read

Lamine Yamal is the youngest player to ever feature at the European Championship after his first appearance for Spain at Euro 2024.

The Spanish wonderkid started in La Furia Roja's opening game against Croatia and thus made history, featuring aged just 16 years and 338 days.

Yamal broke the previous record set by Jacper Kozlowski, who featured for Poland at the delayed Euro 2020. The Pogon Szcecin academy graduate made his Euros debut at the age of just 17 years and 246 days old against Spain.

Kozlowski came off the bench during a 1-1 draw against Luis Enrique’s side and went on to make one further appearance at the tournament.

READ MORE: Who is the youngest player to score in the Euros?

Prior to Kozlowski, the record belonged to Jude Bellingham, with the England international holding the title of the youngest player in Euros history for just six days.

The ex-Birmingham City midfielder came off the bench during England’s 1-0 win against Croatia aged 17 years and 349 days old. Bellingham then became the youngest player to ever feature in a knockout match at the European Championship when he featured against Ukraine in the quarter-final.

Jetro Willems is the fourth-youngest player in Euros history. The Dutchman made his debut in the competition at Euro 2012, featuring against Denmark at the age of 18 years and 71 days old.

READ MORE: Who is the oldest player to score in the Euros?

In fifth place is Enzo Scifo. He was 18 years and 115 days old when he made his European Championship debut for Belgium against Yugoslavia at Euro 1984.

Jamal Musiala is the sixth-youngest player in European Championship history. The talented attacking midfielder featured for Germany versus Hungary at Euro 2020 aged 18 years and 177 days old.

Bulgaria’s Valeri Bojinov is in seventh place, after featuring at Euro 2004 at the age of 18 years and 128 days old, while Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen is eighth. He featured against England at Euro 2004 aged 18 years and 137 days old.

Pedri and Marcus Rashford complete the top 10. Spain star Pedro was 18 years and 201 days old when he featured against Sweden at Euro 2020, while Rashford was 18 years and 229 days old against Wales in 2016.

Who is the youngest footballer in European Championship history?