Cristiano Ronaldo held the record for being the youngest player to score on his European Championship debut for the last 20 years – but the Portuguese legend has now been usurped
Turkish wonderkid Arda Guler has broken Cristiano Ronaldo’s record by becoming the youngest player ever to score on his European Championship debut.
Guler, at 19 years and 114 days old, thundered in a sublime goal during Turkey’s 3-1 victory over Georgia to get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start. Two decades ago – almost to the day – Ronaldo set the previous record by scoring a consolation goal in hosts Portugal’s opening 2-1 loss to eventual winners Greece.
The then-Sporting Lisbon prospect was 14 days older than Guler, who plays for Real Madrid and is nicknamed the ‘Turkish Messi’. He curled in a shot from 25 yards to put Turkey 2-1 up after Georgia had equalised in the first half and did all they could to try and cause an upset in Dortmund.
Guler played a limited role for Real in the season just gone, although he still scored six goals in 12 games following his summer move from Fenerbahce in a deal worth up to £25million. Ronaldo, who turned 39 in February, took little over an hour to respond to Guler’s heroics and smashed a new record, becoming the first player to feature in SIX European Championships.
The ex-Manchester United and Juventus striker famously won the tournament with Portugal in 2016 and has the same ambition again. “I know I don’t have many years of football left,” Ronaldo said ahead of Tuesday’s Group F opener against the Czech Republic in Leipzig.
“It’s a gift to play year after year, after 35. I’m 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream. For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love. Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record.
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“Playing in 2004, when I made my [Euro] debut, or today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn’t get better than this. The most important thing is that I am well physically and psychologically. I am prepared, I always prepare in the best way, I am 100 per cent professional. I will be ready as always to help our country and respect the coach’s decisions.”
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