Oldest and youngest players at Euros: Lamine Yamal sets goal scoring record at 2024 European Championship

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 had 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 130 days when he was named in the side for their quarterfinal against France, which they lost on penalties.

Ronaldo is third on this list, having played in the same game at the age of 39 and 151 days.

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.

Luka Modric is narrowly short of making this top five, but the Croatia star does boast the record as the tournament's oldest goal scorer.

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.

A new name appeared at the top of the rankings after Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal was named to start Spain's Group B clash with Croatia.

The record was previously held by Kacper Kozlowski, who pipped Jude Bellingham to top spot after featuring for Poland against Spain three years ago, but while he missed out on Euro 2024 selection, Bellingham and fellow top-five midfielder Jamal Musiala made huge impacts this time around for England and Germany respectively. 

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. Pepe, at the age of 41, surpassed both Matthaus and Kiraly as the oldest player in the tournament's history. Ronaldo is third on that list, having joined the Porto centre-back in the starting lineup for Portugal's quarterfinal exit at the hands of France.

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

Euro 2024 is likely to have been 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 was 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 broke Kozlowski's record by over seven months by featuring in Spain's first game of the tournament against Croatia, having already become La Roja's youngest appearance maker and goal scorer.

Paris Saint-Germain and France midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is the closest to Lamine Yamal's record, but it's still a decent gap between them. 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

Oldest goal scorer in Euros history

On June 24, 2024, Luka Modric set a new record for the oldest goal scorer in the history of the European Championship.

The Croatia great scored in the 55th minute of his side's Group B clash with Italy in Leipzig to put his side 1-0 up. The goal came just moments after he had seen a penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Modric broke the record held by Austria forward Ivica Vastic, who had become the Euros' oldest scorer with his strike against Poland at Euro 2008, at 38 years, eight months and 14 days old.

Youngest goal scorer in Euros history

On July 9, Lamine Yamal smashed the record for the youngest player to score a goal at the European Championship.

The Spain star's exquisite equaliser in the semifinal clash with France saw him move top of the standings, nearly 18 months younger than the previous record holder, Johan Vonlanthen of Switzerland.