10 European Championship records broken at Euro 2024

Euro 2024 reaches its conclusion this weekend as England face Spain in the final. It’s been a record-breaking tournament in more than one way and we’ve looked at 10 landmarks shattered this summer.

Here are 10 European Championship records broken at Euro 2024.

Most tournaments played – 6 (Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, 2004–2024)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s longevity is quite superhuman. Two decades on from his major tournament debut as a fresh-faced teenager at Euro 2004, Ronaldo represented Portugal this summer. The 39-year-old’s tournament did not go as planned as he failed to score in five games, but his six European Championships is a new record.

Youngest player to appear – 16 years, 338 days (Lamine Yamal, Spain, vs Croatia)

At the opposite end of the footballing age spectrum is Lamine Yamal. The Spanish starlet is among a collection of emerging names backed to replace Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the the best in the world. He’s done a pretty good job of living up to that billing, impressing during Spain’s run to the final.

The 16-year-old’s appearance in Spain’s semi-final win over France also saw him become the youngest-ever player to appear in a major tournament semi-final, eclipsing the record set in 1958 by Pele.

Oldest player to appear – 41 years, 130 days (Pepe, Portugal, vs France)

Pepe defied father time to perform for Portugal this summer with the centre-back commanding Roberto Martinez’s backline. Such has been his longevity, the aforementioned Lamine Yamal was born just a month before Pepe’s Portugal debut. He’s since been involved in five European Championships, earning Team of the Tournament selection on three occasions and winning the trophy in 2016.

Youngest goalscorer – 16 years, 362 days (Lamine Yamal, Spain vs France)

Yamal continued his record-breaking tournament with a semi-final stunner against France. The winger’s arced finish from distance brought Spain level in the tie, as La Roja came from behind to reach the final.

His spectacular strike saw the 16-year-old surpass the previous record, held by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlathen who scored in the 2004 edition at the age of 18 years and 141 days, by almost 18 months.

Youngest debut goalscorer – 19 years, 114 days (Arda Güler, Turkey vs Georgia)

Arda Güler made an impression as a talented Turkey team reached the last eight. The 19-year-old has been labelled the ‘Turkish Messi’ and justified the hype with a Golazo on his tournament debut against Georgia. He’s the sixth-youngest Euros goalscorer ever and the youngest to do so in their first appearance.

Fastest goal – 23 seconds (Nedim Bajrami, Albania vs Italy)

Incredibly, four of the six fastest goals ever scored at a European Championship have been scored this summer.

Nedim Bajrami’s early effort for Albania shocked holders Italy in the group stage, as the midfielder fired home after just 23 seconds.

Fastest knockout stage goal – 57 seconds (Merih Demiral, Turkey vs Austria)

Merih Demiral then set the record for the fastest-ever knockout stage goal. Turkey took just 57 seconds to open the scoring against Austria in the Round of 16, as Demiral kick-started a breathless encounter with an early opener.

The centre-back thumped the ball home after a goal-mouth scramble and later scored a second as the Crescent-Stars won 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

Latest goal in normal time – 90+10th minute (Kevin Csoboth, Hungary vs Scotland)

Scotland and Hungary met in a group stage clash and it was the latter who earned the points in dramatic fashion. A late, late counter-attack stunned Scotland, as Kevin Csoboth scored a 100th-minute winner to seal a 1-0 win for Hungary.

Most yellow cards in a single game – 18 (Turkey vs Czech Republic)

Turkey’s 2-1 win over the Czech Republic saw István Kovács go card crazy as the official handed out a record-breaking 18 cards.

Turkey saw 11 players booked, including eight of their starting side, with the Czech Republic racking up two red cards.

Antonin Barak’s first-half dismissal for two quick-fire bookings left the Czechs with an uphill task, before Tomas Chory was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after a scuffle broke out following Cenk Tosun’s stoppage-time winner for Turkey.

Most wins in a single tournament – 6* (Spain)

Spain have been the team of the tournament so far with six straight wins to reach the final. La Roja have eliminated Germany and France on their path to the decider to become the first team in European Championship history to win six games in a single tournament.

A seventh against England this weekend will see Luis de la Fuente’s side win a record-breaking fourth European title.

Read – Seven Euro 2024 stars we expect to move clubs this summer

See more – Five Premier League players to watch at the 2024 Olympics

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